It's Official: Warner Walks Away After 12 Seasons

NFL News - January 29th, 2010 - Written by John

As expected, Kurt Warner announced his retirement on Friday, getting on with the news before it became a distraction before the Super Bowl.

Warner, who was the only player to throw more than 100 touchdown passes for two teams, and took two disastrous franchises to the Super Bowl, steps down after 12 seasons.

"Obviously, it's been 12 unbelievable years, some of the best years of my life," a composed Warner said. "But I want everybody to know that I'm just as excited about the next 12, that I'm excited about what lies in front of me. I'm excited about spending more time with my family, and seeing what God's going to do next."

It was widely believed the 38-year old would hang it up because he was faced with a similar decision last year, but didn't call a press conference to announce his decision. He was reminded of his age on several occasions this season, none the more sobering than when he was knocked silly against the St. Louis Rams midway through the year and suffered a concussion.

He took longer than expected to recover, and began seriously considering his long term health. His last game, a divisional playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, simply sealed his decision after he was dazed by defensive tackle Bobby McCray and had to sit out a few snaps.

He was set to earn another $11.5 million in salary if he stayed for the last year of a two-year deal he signed last off-season.

He was one of only two quarterbacks to ever start the Super Bowl for two different teams and had one of the most captivating careers in recent memory. He went from grocery store bag boy in Iowa, to the CFL, to the Rams -- a team that had never even sniffed the Super Bowl previously. In 1999, his second year with the team, St. Louis was forced to start him when Trent Green was knocked out for the year, and Warner promptly threw for 4,353 yards, 41 touchdowns, and won the league's MVP award.

Warner is the current owner of the Super Bowl's top-three passing performances, including his 417-yard game in his first appearance with the Rams.

He won that game, the only win out of three trips, and was named MVP.

"We all learned great lessons from Kurt's humility, dignity and grace. We will forever be thankful for the success he brought us and the unparalleled generosity he has shown the St. Louis community and beyond," Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom said in a statement, via ESPN.

As pointed out by ESPN, Warner seems to be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame, accumulating a better completion rate, more yards per attempt and per game than any of the last 14 quarterbacks to get in.

He threw for an NFL-record 1,156 yards in last season's NFL Playoffs, besting his own 1999 record of 1,063.

He was the 2008 recipient of the Man of the Year award, was a four-time Pro Bowler, and finishes with the third-highest passer rating in NFL history.

"I wanted people to remember that anything is possible," Warner said.