Kurt Warner decided to call it a career today in Arizona. It makes sense– Warner is 38 years old and has been contemplating retirement for some time–although after this season’s performance it’s pretty clear that he had a lot left in the tank (3,753 yards, 26 TDs, 93.2 QB rating, 5 TDs in his first playoff game, etc.).
More importantly, Kurt Warner deserves to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He’s got everything you want out of a Hall of Fame QB. First, he’s got the accolades: 3 Super Bowl appearances, 1 Super Bowl win, 1 Super Bowl MVP, 4 Pro Bowls, and 2 league MVPs.
Second, he’s got the eye popping stats: 3rd best career passer rating all time (93.7), fastest player in NFL history to throw for 10,000 yards, broke his own record for most passing yards in the playoffs ever with the Cards last year (1,156), only the 2nd QB ever to throw for 100 TDs and 14,000 yards with two different teams, and 2nd most career 300 yard passing games all time. In fact, statistically, Warner has a better career completion percentage, yards per attempt, and yards per game than all 14 QBs who’ve entered the Hall of Fame in the last 25 years.
Third, he’s a good guy with a great story. Warner started off his career playing in the Arena League, NFL Europe, and working in a grocery store. He got his shot in the NFL in 1999 when he was the backup QB in St. Louis. After Trent Green got injured, Warner stepped in, and Trent Green shortly became an afterthought in St. Louis, with Warner winning the MVP and the Super Bowl that very season. That’s basically a modern day fairy tale. But, there’s even more with Warner. After Warner was cast off from St. Louis, made Eli Manning’s backup in New York, and finally brought in to be a veteran presence behind Matt Leinart he had a major resurgence in Arizona– bringing a long woeful franchise all the way to the Super Bowl, coming so close to victory, and breaking the playoff passing record in the process. He also won the NFL’s Man of the Year Award in 2008, making his ridiculous comeback story all the sweeter, since he’s a nice guy.
If a guy with this story, with these numbers and awards, who’s this nice isn’t a Hall of Famer, I don’t know who should be. Get the bust in Canton ready, Kurt Warner’s on his way.
–ALERT: Downer for Cards fans–Matt Leinart is now your QB. 49ers win the NFC West. Mark it down.
