ARIZONA CARDINALS

Hall of Famer Kurt Warner: ‘What an amazing ride’

Feb 6, 2017, 11:49 AM

Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner celebrates with fans as he leaves the field after the Cardinals vict...

Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner celebrates with fans as he leaves the field after the Cardinals victory over the St. Louis Rams in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 34-10 to clinch the NFC West Division title. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

LISTEN: Kurt Warner, former Cardinals quarterback and Hall-of-Famer

Former Arizona Cardinal Kurt Warner being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame may be the exclamation point on a one-of-a-kind football career, but Warner wants everyone to know he’s not close to being done sharing his experience with others.

“What an amazing opportunity now to be able to use my story and where I started to now where you finish to encourage and inspire others, regardless of the field that they want to go into or the dreams that they have,” he told Doug and Wolf Monday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “To say, ‘Hey, sometimes the circumstances don’t look like it. Sometimes people are gonna tell you you’ll never do it. But I was there, and now I end up in this place and others have that same opportunity if they just keep believing.'”

Warner’s story is one of the most unique and interesting in the history of the NFL, having gone from an undrafted free agent out of University of Northern Iowa who had to resort to bagging groceries to support himself to a Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer.

“It’s pretty surreal, pretty incredible,” he said. “What an amazing ride that I’ve had. Just going so many different places. Can’t believe you end up here.”

Warner played 12 seasons from 1998-2009 with the St. Louis Rams, New York Giants and Cardinals. He also was a member of the Green Bay Packers practice squad in 1994 and played three seasons with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League and one with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe.

Although it hasn’t always been easy, Warner is thankful for everything he’s gone through.

“Thanks, God, for taking me on this path,” he said. “Thank you that you chose me for this, because no one will ever have a story like mine. No one will ever take the path that I did to end up in the Hall of Fame.”

The 1999 and 2001 NFL Most Valuable Player went to three Super Bowls in his career, winning Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999. He took the Rams back two years later and led the Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII in 2009. These are the only Super Bowl appearances in both franchises’ histories.

Despite all of his success, Warner said nothing could prepare him for Saturday’s news.

“There are certain things in life that, regardless of how much you think about it, you’ll never know what it feels like until you’re there,” he said. “What it’s like to get married, what it’s like to have your first child or have a child, what it’s like to win the Super Bowl if you play football. Certain things people always ask you, ‘What does that feel like?’ And you can’t ever prepare for that. And the Hall of Fame is kind of one of those things.”

Warner is joined in the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 by two of his NFL Network colleagues in running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Terrell Davis, as well as kicker Morten Andersen, safety Kenny Easley, owner Jerry Jones and defensive end Jason Taylor.

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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