LA Rams: Three great quarterbacks from 1960 to 2003

Kurt Warner

What can any Rams or NFL fan say about Kurt Warner that already hasn’t been said elsewhere? The accolades are numerous and well earned. This hard-luck quarterback from Northern Iowa began his career as an undrafted free agent after the 1994 NFL Draft. After that, an unbelievable story would be written.

He would sign with the Green Bay Packers, then be released prior to the beginning of the season. Warner would have to compete against Brett Favre, Mark Brunell, and Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. Needless to say, his time with the Packers was nothing more than a cup of coffee.

Warner would end up stocking shelves at the Hy-Vee grocery store in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It was an inauspicious beginning to what would become a Hall of Fame career.

In 1995, he would end up playing in the Arena Football League for the Iowa Barnstormers. In 1997 he would land a tryout with the Chicago Bears, however, an injury caused him to miss his opportunity for a quarterback job.

1998 saw the first glimmer of success as he would sign with the Rams when they were playing in St. Louis. As their third-string quarterback, he saw only limited action.

In 1999, an injury to Trent Green opened the door for Warner, and he would close it for good. Rams head coach Dick Vermeil would name the one-time Arena League player the starting quarterback, and Warner exploded onto the NFL scene.

Kurt Warner would go on to put together one of the top seasons by a quarterback in NFL history, throwing for 4,353 yards with 41 touchdown passes and a completion rate of 65.1%. He would be named the NFL MVP that year and lead the Rams to their first playoff appearance since 1989.

The hard-luck kid from Northern Iowa would lead the Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV against the Tennessee Titans. In the championship game, he threw for two touchdowns and a then Super Bowl record of 414 passing yards, including a 73-yard touchdown to wide receiver Isaac Bruce.

Warner would take the Rams to another Super Bowl but lost to the New England Patriots, 20-17. In 2003, his time with the Rams would wind down, and on June 1, 2004, he would be released.