Kurt Warner isn’t a lock for the Hall of Fame, but he should be. He certainly retires as one of the best big-game performers in NFL history. In five trips to the playoffs, he owned a 9-4 record, three Super Bowl appearances and a laundry list of individual accolades:
10. First career start: Sept. 12, 1999
Throwing for 309 yards and 3 TDs is now nothing special for Warner, but in Week 1 of the 1999 season, the Rams got the first glimpse of the quarterback that would lead them to a Super Bowl. St. Louis’ 27-10 win over the Ravens was just the start to Warner’s MVP season: 4,353 yards, 41 TDs, 13 INTs.
9. Six straight 300-yarders: Oct. 15, 2000
How do you follow up a Super Bowl win? With an assault on NFL defenses, of course. Warner opened the Rams’ title defense in 2000 with six straight wins. He threw for more than 300 yards in each of them — tied for the most consecutive 300-yard passing games in NFL history.
8. Super Bowl XXXVI: Feb. 3, 2002
The Patriots defense forced Warner into some mistakes, but he bounced back from two interceptions to throw for 365 yards. He mounted a come back from a 17-3 deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter with a quarterback sneak. But New England kicker Adam Vinatieri booted the Pats to the Super Bowl win.
7. Perfection: Oct. 3, 1999
A file from the “unbelievable” vault. Warner, in just his third NFL start, reeled off this stat line against the Bengals: 17-21, 310 yards, 3 TDs, 158.3 quarterback rating. It was the first of three career games in which Warner had a perfect rating — tied for the most in NFL history.
6. Cardinals 32, Eagles 25: Jan. 18, 2009
Warner became the second quarterback to take two teams to the Super Bowl (Craig Morton) after he led the Cardinals to an NFC Championship Game victory over the Eagles last year. He threw for 279 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs as Warner led his second historically dysfunctional franchise to the promised land.
5. On the mark: Sept. 20, 2009
This one was just a little ridiculous. After looking sluggish and throwing two interceptions in a Week 1 loss to the 49ers, Warner carved up the Jaguars, completing 24 of 26 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. The 92.3 completion percentage is the highest in a regular-season game in NFL history.
4. Super Bowl XLIII: Feb. 1, 2009
Despite losing to the Steelers, 27-23, Warner threw for 377 yards and 3 TDs with a 72.1 completion percentage. He owns the three highest single-game passing yard totals in Super Bowl history. Warner led the Cardinals to 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter only to watch the Steelers respond with a game-winning drive.
3. Rams 49, Vikings 37: Jan. 16, 2000
In a playoff game where no one played defense, Warner and Vikings quarterback Jeff George combined for 814 passing yards and nine touchdowns. Warner (27-33, 391 yards, 5 TDs) was both efficient and explosive, tossing a 77-yard scoring pass to Isaac Bruce and helping the Rams jump out to a 49-17 lead.
2. Cardinals 51, Packers 45: Jan. 10, 2010
Warner had to outplay a quarterback that threw for 423 yards and four TDs. Well, he did. In winning the highest combined scoring playoff game in NFL history, Warner threw more touchdowns (5) than incompletions (4). It was Warner’s last home playoff game, ending his career 7-0.
1. Super Bowl XXXIV: Jan. 30, 2000
From grocery store bagger to Super Bowl champion. Warner’s 1999 magic carpet ride ended with a 414-yard, two-touchdown performance — capped by a 73-yard scoring pass to Isaac Bruce late in the fourth quarter — that lifted the Rams to their first Super Bowl victory, 23-16, over the Titans.
