Kurt Warner To Be Inducted Into Arizona Cardinals Ring Of Honor

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFL former quarterback Kurt Warner in attendance before Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, Arizona Cardinals’ team president, Michael Bidwill, made the somewhat surprising announcement that Kurt Warner would be the latest member of the franchise’s Ring of Honor. The grocery bagger-turned-quarterback manning the Arizona backfield from 2005 through 2009, amassing over 13,000 yards, over 100 touchdown passes, and led the previously-ailing franchise to a birth in Super Bowl XLIII versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

However, despite his “late” career accomplishments, Warner will forever be linked to the St. Louis Rams organization. The signal caller of the Greatest Show on Turf sported the golden horns for the opening six seasons of his NFL life. In that span, Warner managed three Pro-Bowl births, was a two-time league Most Valuable Player award winner, and capped it all off by being named the MVP of the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Indeed, the vast majority of accolades that will give Warner a fighting chance at being enshrined in Canton came during his tenure in St. Louis. Even with recent remarks from Warner that suggest he feels “closer” to the Cardinals’ organization, there is still something odd about him entering a Ring of Honor outside of the one in the Edward Jones Dome.

However, Warner wouldn’t be the first Rams hero that another organization attempted to claim post-career. Back in October of 2013, the Indianapolis Colts inducted both Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk into their Ring of Honor, despite both being national recognized as iconic figures in Rams franchise history. While both players certainly spent their fair share of time in Indianapolis, but the vast majority of their accolades, much like Kurt Warner, came while sporting the golden horns on the side of their helmets.

To this point, only Eric Dickerson has made the cut into the Rams “Ring of Fame,” tagging alongside 12 other historic NFL greats, like Deacon Jones, Jack Youngblood, and Jackie Slater. There is no doubt that players like Marshall Faulk, Orlando Pace, Issac Bruce, and Torry Holt will one day see their name enshrined among the Rams’ legends. However, while the organization has certainly not rushed to engrave these names on the stadium walls, you can rest assured that the Rams will never stoop to “stealing” another team’s iconic figure, merely for the name recognition.

The bar has been set high for the Rams Ring of Fame, it doesn’t appear as though that is the case elsewhere…