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8-year-old Brett celebrates Favre in Canton

Alyssa Bloechl

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Matt, Jessica, Ava and Brett Rybarczyk of Cleveland met Brett Favre in Waukesha during an autograph signing in June.

CANTON, Ohio - Brett Favre is probably feeling rather excited for his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, but another Brett might rival Favre’s enthusiasm.

Eight-year-old Brett Rybarczyk of Cleveland, in Manitowoc County, is also in Canton this weekend to celebrate Favre and the 2016 inductees. He also got to participate in the Hall of Fame’s 17th annual “First Play” event on Thursday morning.

First Play requires a chain of 2,500 children to line up to pass a football along a 3-mile route, starting in downtown Canton and ending at the Pro Hall of Fame steps.

Rybarczyk had the honor of making the very last pass of the event, running up the steps of the Hall and passing the football to the Hall of Fame President David Baker.

“It was a lot of fun,” Brett Rybarczyk said. “Not many kids get to do that, so it was very special.”

Along with Baker and a number of Hall of Famers, Brett met NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Eight-year-old Brett Rybarczyk of Cleveland runs up the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, to pass the football to the Hall of Fame President David Baker.

Brett Favre: From ‘can’t play’ to Canton

Seven Hall of Famers — Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, Mike Haynes, Paul Krause, James Lofton, Warren Moon and Andre Reed — participated in the opening ceremony of First Play, and they joined the children along the route.

Rybarczyk came to Canton with his family, and was not at all expecting to have such a big role in the First Pass event when his dad, Matt, registered him to participate.

Brett Rybarczyk, 8, of Cleveland, poses with Hall of Fame player James Lofton during the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “First Play” event in Canton, Ohio.

“We were planning the trip to Ohio, and I was looking for stuff for kids to do this week, and I registered Brett for First Pass,” Matt said. “A couple of weeks ago, the Hall of Fame called and said they had selected him to do the last pass because he was from Wisconsin.”

Being that he was named after Brett Favre, it made the opportunity more exciting.

Rybarczyk was born in 2007, a good year for Green Bay with a 13-3 regular season record, but it was also Favre’s last as a Packer.

Brett Rybarczyk, 8, of Cleveland, poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “First Play” event in Canton, Ohio.

Matt said he had been driving home contemplating names for his unborn son when “Brett” came to him. His wife Jessica was on board when he talked to her about the idea.

Going to see Favre become enshrined in Canton was something the family has been looking forward to for months. Brett and Matt worked together, monitoring multiple devices, to make sure they could purchase tickets.

Brett Rybarczyk, 8, of Cleveland, poses with Hall of Fame players Franco Harris (left) and Andre Reed (right) during the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “First Play” event in Canton, Ohio.

The family had the opportunity to meet Brett Favre in Waukesha in June, and were able to share the story about their son being the quarterback’s namesake.

“Brett (Favre) thought it was wonderful we named our child after him,” Matt said. “He gave us all high fives, and a fist bump to my daughter, Ava.”

After receiving a photo with Favre, they realized it was blurry. Luckily, they were able to catch up with him later and retook the photo and Favre signed an extra autograph.

As part of the Enshrinement Week and Play Football Month festivities, the National Football League hosted a special youth football clinic, which Rybarczyk also experienced. At the camp, he found himself playing catch with some of the greats.

“I just looked over, and there was my son playing catch with Andre Reed and Franco Harris,” Matt said with pride in his voice.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre celebrates after a touchdown during the 2008 playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks.

More than 600 children participated on Thursday, including the Ryan Football team of Miami, who were the 2015 NFL FLAG National Champions in the 13-14 division.

Brett, a Cleveland Elementary School third-grader whose favorite Packers player is Aaron Rodgers, said the clinic taught him a lot and will definitely be helpful during his tackle football games at the Sheboygan YMCA.

The clinic was led by Hall of Famers, teaching the kids football skills, drills, character and values of commitment, integrity, courage, respect and excellence, the sport demands from its players. Rybarczyk and the other participants got to play on the new National Football and Youth Sports Complex, a $500 million development on the HOF campus.

“It has been a heck of a week, and all the experiences have been great so far,” Matt said.

The family will be going to the Hall of Fame enshrinement and will also watch the Packers take on the Colts in the 2016 NFL/Hall of Fame preseason game Sunday night.

Alyssa Bloechl: 920-686-2152, email abloechl@htrnews.com, Twitter@alyssabloechl