After being an undrafted free agent, Kurt Warner spent time in every football league outside the NFL before finally getting a chance with the St. Louis Rams in 1998. An unfortunate injury to Trent Green in preseason provided Warner an opportunity and the rest is history.
While Warner did not necessarily have a long period of sustained excellence, he produced monster numbers with the Rams along with his comeback season with the Arizona Cardinals. After being named a finalist in his three years of eligibility, Warner has finally been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Here is the press release of Warner being elected into the Class of 2017 via Los Angeles Rams:
HOUSTON – Former Rams QB KURT WARNER was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2017, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced today. With Warner’s selection, the Rams now boast a total of 30 Hall of Famers – 18 of which spent a significant portion of their careers with the franchise.
“Kurt Warner will always be remembered as one of the NFL’s most outstanding quarterbacks,” Rams Owner/Chairman E. STANLEY KROENKE said. “His journey from working the aisles of a grocery store to winning two NFL MVP awards serves as a reminder to never stop pursing your dreams. The Rams enjoyed an incredible run, which included our first Super Bowl title, in large part to his leadership and toughness. Off the field, he and his wife, Brenda, devoted their lives to serving others, and thousands continue to benefit from their outreach initiatives. For these reasons and many more, we congratulate Kurt and his family on this ultimate honor.”
Warner, a three-time finalist, was first eligible for enshrinement in 2015. His resume includes two NFL MVPs, four Pro Bowls, two First-Team All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl MVP trophy, which he earned after throwing for a Super Bowl record 414 yards in the Rams’ win over Tennessee.
In all, he made three Super Bowl starts (XXXIV, XLIII, XXXVI) and owns the top three Super Bowl passing-yard performances in Super Bowl history and ranks second in career Super Bowl passing yards. Warner is also one of just three quarterbacks in NFL history to start a Super Bowl for two different teams, joining Craig Morton and Peyton Manning.
During the 1999 campaign, as a member of the “Greatest Show on Turf,” Warner threw 41 touchdown passes, the most in franchise history. Two seasons later, he tossed 36 touchdowns – the second-highest output by a Ram.
The franchise finished in the top five in passing offense in five-consecutive seasons with Warner as the starting quarterback (1999-2003). Under his watch, the Rams also led the NFL in yards per game, passing yards per game and points per game for three-straight seasons (1999-2001). Warner also finished first in completion percentage after the 1999, 2000 and 2001 seasons – a category he led at the time of his retirement and currently ranks fourth all-time.
From 1999-2009, his time as a starter, he ranks fifth in passing touchdowns, fourth in passing yards and second in completion percentage.
The Class of 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Aug. 5 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
