Twenty years ago, legendary Rams players, most notably Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, and Torry Holt were led at the helm by quarterback Kurt Warner. Through their intoxicating efficiency and exhilarating gameplay, this seemingly unstoppable St. Louis team became known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Plowing their way to two Super Bowls and winning in 1999, the Rams offense appeared to be completely irrepressible, and you wouldn’t be faulted for thinking so.
But the Rams’ illusion of invincibility soon came crashing down, losing the 2001 championship to Tom Brady’s emergent dynasty with the Patriots. Things quickly went downhill for the Rams, including the aforementioned Warner, who was cut following his poor performance in 2002 and 2003. Dumped at the side of the road and left behind by the team he had led to two Super Bowls, Warner went on to find a home in the Arizona Cardinals. There he initially saw limited success, but went on to lead the Cardinals to the Super Bowl in 2009, though they lost 23 to 27.
After suffering a serious injury in 2009, Warner took the path of retirement in 2010. The Warner saga was over. Or is it? I’m here to highlight the potential for Kurt Warner to make a comeback one more time, and to give a proposal that would provide a satisfying conclusion to a career full of so much triumph and tragedy.
Here’s why Kurt Warner could be a good fit for the returning St. Louis Battlehawks:
Wait! Quickly, before I talk about Warner’s potential in the XFL, let’s address the elephant in the room. Kurt Warner is old. Really old. So old in fact, that he would be the 34 year old Josh Johnson’s senior by 16 years! This is surely an all but disqualification from entering the XFL. However, instead of dropping the argument, I’d still like to make a case for Warner’s ability to lead a team, and how it could seriously benefit the XFL as a whole. With that out of the way, let’s look at the case for Kurt Warner.
It would be the story of a lifetime
Having Kurt Warner play for the XFL would be the perfect way to rejuvenate the organization. Warner would give the XFL the star power it craves, bringing fans to the stands and providing the exposure an emergent league needs. It would also give the XFL the opportunity to further tap into the St. Louis market, who made a big splash in weeks 3 and 4 of the 2020 season in which they posted record-setting attendance. St. Louis fans would no doubt love to see the quarterback who gave them the best years of his career, along with the incredibly special moment of winning the Super Bowl. Warner coming back to St. Louis would give the city the opportunity to make amends with the man they gave up on and to give the fans the chance to really show their appreciation for his contributions. Overall, it would be a proper way to end Warner’s career, and a satisfying conclusion for all parties.
He’s got the skill and the experience
Despite coming on in years, and the dad bod that surely comes with the package, Warner could reasonably get back into shape to play quarterback. If the league were to kickoff in the spring of 2022, that would give him a year’s worth of preparation to get ready. At his stage of life, when an optimized body would have a fraction of the potential it used to, Warner would have to heavily pull from his skill and experience in playing the role. Luckily, there are few that can match him in either category. Winning 2 MVP awards, making 4 Pro Bowls, and winning a Super Bowl, Kurt Warner most certainly deserves his place in the Hall of Fame. With his extensive knowledge of football, there’s no doubt that Warner could use his ability to its maximum potential.
He’s expressed interest
Warner’s just recently expressed his interest on twitter to take up the role of a practice squad quarterback, preferably in Arizona. While this is by no means a call to join the Battlehawks, let alone a call to be a starter, it most certainly shows his desire to play football again. If he had the will for it, he could surely take it a step further in St. Louis and be the team starter. Or, if he’d like, he could be a practice squad quarterback for the Battlehawks. That would give him the opportunity to interact with fans on the sidelines without necessarily having to go out on the field.
So, what do you think? Do you think there’s potential for Warner to make a comeback in the XFL? Let us know down in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord.
