ARIZONA CARDINALS

Kurt Warner voted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

Feb 4, 2017, 6:05 PM | Updated: Feb 5, 2017, 1:59 pm

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Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Warner joins former Miami Dolphins pass-rusher Jason Taylor, former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis, former San Diego Chargers running back LaDanian Tomlinson former Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former New Orleans Saints kicker Morten Anderson as the members of the 2017 Hall of Fame class. They were revealed at the NFL Honors show Saturday night.

“We all have dreams, we all believe big things, we all expected greatness from ourselves,” Warner said Saturday night. “I never would have expected (breaking into the league with the Rams in) ’99. I was joking with somebody this week that it took me so long to get here and then in ’99 God placed me in The Greatest Show on Turf with all those other Hall of Famers and I just said, he was thinking, ‘We’re going to make up for lost time. I’m going to give you all this right off the bat.’ What a special season that was, but I think it did help in the process to just start so late but to have so much success early. But I don’t think any of us necessarily imagine it would play out like this. I know I didn’t with all the struggles just to get here.

“But again, at the end of the day, so many times I said, ‘Man, God, could you just change the story a little bit?'” Warner added. “And now that it’s all said and done I look up and I go, ‘God, thank God you didn’t change the story. I don’t want the same story that everyone else has. To me, we all have our different roads we take, but for me, there will be no one else who has my journey, and I will be extremely proud of that.

This was Warner’s third attempt at Canton enshrinement, as he missed out on the Hall of Fame in his first two years of eligibility.

Although Warner played for just five seasons in Arizona, he will forever be a legend for Valley sports fans.

He led the team to its only Super Bowl appearance in 2008, and even though the Cardinals fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Warner had an excellent game with 377 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Warner also guided Arizona to NFC West division championships in 2008 and 2009.

Warner threw for 15,843 yards, 100 touchdowns and completed 65.1 percent of his throws in his five years in Arizona. His best statistical year with the Cardinals was in 2008 when he passed for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Warner, though, had a successful career before he arrived in Arizona and it’s tough to ignore his time with the St. Louis Rams. Starting in 1999, Warner won two MVP awards and appeared in two Super Bowls with the Rams, winning Super Bowl XXXIV.

Starting in 1999, Warner won two MVP awards and appeared in two Super Bowls with the Rams, winning Super Bowl XXXIV.

Moreover, many of Warner’s NFL records happened in St. Louis, such as being the fastest quarterback to throw for 10,000 yards, and he still holds the record for the most passing yards in a Super Bowl (414 in Super Bowl XXXIV).

Warner took a long road in order to achieve NFL success.

After playing college football at the University of Northern Iowa, Warner attended Green Bay Packers training camp in 1994. Unfortunately, Warner was cut and bagged groceries in Cedar Falls, Iowa in between playing football.

From there Warner turned to the Arena Football League, where he played for the Iowa Barnstormers from 1995 to 1997. Warner also played with NFL Europe’s Amsterdam Admirals in 1998 before he was signed by the Rams.

While Warner had some excellent years with the Rams, it didn’t end for him in the Gateway to the West. In 2002, he missed most of the year with injuries and in 2003 he was benched for Marc Bulger.

Warner was released by the Rams in the following offseason, which led to him signing with the New York Giants. His time in the Big Apple was short-lived, as he was benched after nine starts for No. 1 overall pick Eli Manning.

That led him to sign with the Cardinals. Warner had a career renaissance in Arizona, but his career with the Cardinals did not start off great when he signed in 2005.

In 2005, Warner shared starting time with Josh McCown, and in 2006, started the first four games before being replaced by first-round pick Matt Leinart.

In 2007, Warner began the season backing up Leinart, but in Week 3 started to see some action running the 2-minute offense. Warner took over as the starter after Leinart suffered a season-ending injury in Week 5.

The veteran quarterback took advantage of his opportunity by throwing for 3,417 yards, 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions en route to guiding the Cardinals to an 8-8 record, the team’s first non-losing season since 1998.

Warner lives with his wife and seven children in the Valley and serves as an analyst for the NFL Network.

He also is the offensive coordinator for Desert Mountain High School where his son Kade played wide receiver.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) throws a pass over Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith (52) in the first half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.(AP Photo/Phil Coale) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (4) meet at midfield after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 30-17. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner celebrates after overtime of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. Arizona won 51-45. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner walks to the sideline during a first-half timeout during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner looks for a reciever during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, in St. Louis. Warner had his 45th 300-yard passing game, throwing for two touchdowns to defeat the St. Louis Rams 34-13. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is hit by New England Patriots' Jarvis Green on an incomplete pass during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner leaves the field after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 29-24. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2000, file photo, St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner holds up the Lombardi Trophy after the Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta. Warner is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) escapes the grasp of Miami Dophins' Vonnie Holliday during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) has his arm bent by Carolina Panthers' Julias Peppers after a fumble during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz. Warner left the game but later returned. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, top, eludes Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Gaines Adams, left, as Warner throws a second-quarter pass during NFL football game action Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks Matt Leinart, right, and Kurt Warner, watch from the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007 in Glendale, Ariz. Warner was replaced by backup Tim Rattay after Warner was injured in the second quarter. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) get the fans to cheer during an NFL football training camp Friday, July 31, 2009 in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner arrives for afternoon practice at at the NFL football team's training camp Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner warms up during afternoon practice at Cardinals NFL football training camp Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) throws deep late in the first quarter of a NFL pre-season football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner, left, just gets a pass off as he gets hit by Minnesota Vikings' Jared Allen in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Vikings 30-17. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner answers reporters' questions following practice for the NFC Divisional Playoff game Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, at the team's facility in Tempe, Ariz. The Cardinals will play the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Jan. 16. (AP Photo/Paul Connors) New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (98) reaches out to tackle Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) during the third quarter of an NFL football divisional playoff game in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) walks off the field after his NFL football divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 45-14 to advance to the NFC conference championship. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) September 13, 2009 - University of Phoenix Stadium

49ers 20, Cardinals 16

Kurt Warner threw for 288 yards but two costly interceptions gave San Francisco a surprising road win against the reigning NFC champions. Kurt Warner

Kurt Warner was done. Unceremoniously dumped 
by both the Rams and Giants, most thought the 
Cardinals were continuing their trend of 
signing washed up players in the twilight of 
their careers. Not so fast. Though then-coach 
Dennis Green called Matt Leinart "a gift from 
heaven," the man he was supposed to replace 
ended up being the real prize. Warner revived 
his career in 2007, starting 11 games and 
throwing 27 touchdowns. What he did the next 
two seasons was nothing short of miraculous, 
throwing for 8,336 yards and 56 touchdowns 
and leading the Cardinals to Super Bowl 
XLIII. Former quarterback Kurt Warner, left, talks with San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula  during the 49ers NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) NFL Network's Kurt Warner, a former NFL quarterback, is interviewed during a media availability on set at the NFL Network studios, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, in Culver City, Calif. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, and Matt Leinart share a laugh during an NFL football training camp Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009 in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, center, celebrates with quarterback Kurt Warner, right, as Carolina Panthers' Chris Gamble (20) walks off the field after Fitzgerald's touchdown catch during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2009, file photo, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner throws a pass during against the Pittsburgh Steelers during NFL football's Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla. Pittsburgh won 27-23. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File) Former NFL quarterback and Northern Iowa alumni Kurt Warner cheers on the team in the first half during a second-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Oklahoma City, Sunday, March 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

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