Kurt Warner Pondering Retirement After Playoffs

NFL News - January 10th, 2010 - Written by John

Kurt Warner has become one of the NFL's best postseason passers, but he may be making his curtain call after completing the 2009 NFL Season.

Hours before his team's wild card game against the Green Bay Packers, ESPN reported that Warner is considering retirement at the end of this season, potentially ending a charmed 12-year NFL career. The news comes as a bit of a surprise for many in the league, and it is apparently a decision Warner has been keeping close to his chest.

He could always change his mind, but if he does step away, he would retire as one of the NFL's best playoff quarterbacks of all-time. He has the top-three passing performances in Super Bowl history, including a record 414 yards in Super Bowl 34 with the St. Louis Rams. He won that game and was named MVP.

His legend grew by taking two beleaguered franchises to prominence almost overnight, carrying the Rams to their first Super Bowl in his first season in 1999, then taking the Arizona Cardinals to their first league championship last year.

He has thrown over 100 touchdowns with both teams, becoming only the second quarterback in league history to do so with two different teams.

Last year was probably the most improbable run when he took Arizona, which had never even reached the NFC Championship, to the Super Bowl against the storied Pittsburgh Steelers. His 377-yard performance nearly won it until Santonio Holmes' historic catch.

But he missed several games this year due to concussion symptoms, and has been worried about his longtime health.

Warner won two NFL MVP awards, and was voted to five Pro Bowls in his 12-year career.