by Mark Strotman | January 30th, 2010
The Hall of Fame is a spot for the best of the best. The players who have stood their ground in their generation and competed consistently on such a high level that their success is undeniable. Despite being America’s typical “you can do anything you can set your mind to”, Kurt Warner does not fit that description and does not deserve to be a Hall of Famer.
Warner announced Friday morning that he was retiring from the NFL after 12 seasons. In one of the most peculiar roller coaster rides the NFL has ever seen, Warner went from practice squad quarterback to grocery bagger to Arena League star to NFL Europe star to Super Bowl quarterback to no-name aging veteran to NFC champion. Somewhere in between his rise to stardom, fall from grace, and climb back to the top, Warner put together fantastic numbers that put him in the conversation for one of the best quarterbacks of his generation.
But that does not make him a Hall of Famer.
To describe a Hall of Famer, especially a quarterback, it makes sense to look at every aspect of that player’s resume. Sure, a player like Terry Bradshaw got into Canton primarily because of his four Super Bowl victories and Dan Marino received his ugly yellow jacket because he had managed to crush every major passing record by the time he hung his cleats up.
But for the rest of the bunch, we must take everything into account when determining their Hall of Fame credentials.
Check one for Warner: he is a Super Bowl winner. After a dominating performance in Super Bowl 34, Warner joined the club of now 27 quarterbacks that have started and won a Super Bowl. It’s not a necessity for a quarterback to win a Super Bowl to get in the Hall, but it sure helps. Warner also made it to two other Super Bowls and has won 13 career playoff games. In his three Super Bowl appearances, Warner recorded the highest mark for passing yards in all three.
Statistically, Warner ranks 26th all-time in passing yards, touchdowns, and pass completions. While those numbers don’t scream Hall of Fame, they aren’t too shabby either. Considering the circumstances Warner was put against, playing with three different teams and featuring low-points in his 12-year career, the numbers are impressive.
But wait just a minute, what was that about the low-point Warner went through? Since when do Hall of Famers disappear for five years in the middle of their career? They don’t.
Kurt Warner's football career has been great, but not Hall of Fame-worthy. (AP Photo/Matt York)
From the years of 2002-2006, Warner did absolutely nothing to warrant even a starting gig, let alone the highest honor a football player can receive. It began in St. Louis after Warner led the Rams to Super Bowl XXXVI, when he began the 2002 season with seven interceptions and just one touchdown as the Rams began the year 0-3.
Warner then broke his finger in the team’s next game and would only appear in two more games for the Rams, both of which Warner lost. In 2003, Warner was replaced by Marc Bulger one game into the year after fumbling six times in the opener against the Giants. He would play just two games that season before being released in the off-season. Sound like a Hall of Famer to you?
Things got worse.
Two days after being released by St. Louis, the Giants signed Warner to a two-year deal to start over No. 1 overall pick Eli Manning. Going 5-4 under Warner, New York switched to Manning and wound up winning just one more game the rest of the season. That’s tally number two for quarterbacks Warner has been replaced with. Hall of Fame-worthy?
The next stop would ultimately be his last, when Arizona signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract. After three games, Warner injured his groin and was replaced by Josh McCown. Head coach Dennis Green named Warner the starter for the rest of the season, but would then go back on his statement when McCown flopped.
Warner’s season again ended early, when he partially tore his MCL in a Week 15 game. He finished that season with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The 11 touchdowns would be the most Warner would throw in this five season downfall.
In 2006, Warner started the year off nicely but was replaced once again, this time by Matt Leinart in Week 4. Warner would not play again until Week 16, when Leinart went down with an injury.
In that five year span, Warner was replaced by four quarterbacks and threw for a combined 27 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. In no way should those five years define Warner, and ultimately no one will remember those years for Warner. They will remember “the greatest show on turf” and Warner’s comeback to take the Cardinals back to the top.
In 12 years, Warner put together an outstanding career and was a feel-good story, going from grocery bagger to NFL Super Bowl MVP. Outside of the five forgettable years, Warner’s other seven years were some of the best in NFL history. But remember, the Hall of Fame looks at the whole resume.
It’s not called the Hall of Great, or even the Hall of Very Great. Warner was Hall of Fame-worthy for seven years of his career, but not the other five. Because of that, Warner’s bust should not be next to the greats in Canton.
Mark Strottman is a Staff OP/ED writer for PackerChatters.com.
You can find more of Mark's articles on his blog, Strotty's Blog, and at the Examiner.com.
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Brett Favre had plenty of below-average seasons, multiple “more Ints than TD” seasons, the Packers 4-12 season, etc. Besides Super Bowl 31, Favre did not have a great post-season career.
Plenty of other QBs hit rough patches in their career. Obviously Favre will be a first-ballot hall of famer, and while Warner probably will not be first-ballot, it’s hard to argue he won’t make it to the HOF.
He’s a hall of famer .case closed!!!!
john- why? Mark Strotman has presented a strong case to show he’s not a HOFer. I’d be interested in reading the opposite, because, truly, I side with MS. He had some great seasons, but overall, he had a very up and down career.
Mark Strotman, first a question, then a comment.
Now, you wrote that Warner was replaced by McCown, that Denny Green then named Warner the starter the rest of the year, and had to backpedal on that statement because McCown stunk. I believe you meant that Green named McCown the starter for the rest of the year, not Warner, but I always hate to assume anything (because it simply makes “an ass out of u and me”.
Now, though I agree that Warner is not HOF worthy, remember, Fran Tarkenton was enshrined- and he also played for multiple teams (not by his own volition, but through trades). Yes, he compiled some very good statistics, but HOFer? Gimme a break! So, I liked your conclusion- that electors with selective memories will end up putting him where he really doesn’t belong.
Let’s see. Wasn’t drafted and had nothing handed to him.
Took two different crappy franchises to three Super Bowls.
Career QB rating over 93. DOMINANT PLAYER.
Came out of NFLE and the Arena league to throw for 4000 yds and 41 TD’s and take the Rams to the SB.
9-3 playoff record-
66.5 completion percentage, 4,996 yards, 41 TD, 17 INT IN PLAYOFFS.
Why don’t you look at the Cardinals playoff appearances before Warner got there? They are non existant. The cities of ST. Louis and Phoenix both were brought out of NFL cryogenic stasis by this guy.
TOTAL HALL OF FAMER.
Other then the articles that Patty writes, this is the dumbest article i have ever read on this site. Listen Strotman, you chump, Warner IS a Hall of Famer…Period. He won St. Louis a Superbowl and took them to another one. Since he has left the Rams have managed to put little better then garbage on the field for the fans to watch. He went to NY and had them contending for a playoff spot before Eli Manning was given the starting job because he was given too much money to sit on the bench…it had nothing to do with Eli being a better QB then Warner. Then he went to Arizona, who outside of Cincinatti just might be the worst franchise in NFL history, and made them a winner. You know why? Because that’s what Warner is, he’s a winner. On top of being a winner, he’s a winner with exceptional passing numbers over his career.
Bottom line, Warner took two putrid NFL franchises and resurrected them and took them to super bowls. That’s why he IS a Hall of Famer.
I wonder if you call folks dumb and chumps when having a discussion face to face, zach.
I think Warner will be put into the HOF, and I think he deserves it. For one, he got a League MVP, maybe two, and that goes a long way. He got a superbowl MVP, and while that in itself is not hall worthy, when added to his other accomplishments adds to his credentials. Add in playoff performances and record, plus the fact, and I think it is fact, that the Rams and the Cardinals do not go to the superbowl, let alone win, without Warner.
Marginal WRs get in on reputation all the time, Warner will too, though he is more deserving.
Wow, emotions are running high here. Now, lets applysome impartiality.
First, i absolutely reject any comments about Mr. Strotman personally. Attack the argument, not the writer.
Second, the strong feeling that Warner is a slam-dunk MVP is exactly why there is a five year waiting period before inducting a player. It allows passions to cool, and lets people take a longer, more impersonal look at Warners career- including the five “lost years” (if not ignored)” of his twelve year tenure.
So, in essence, he had a terrific run in hiis first few years in the league, and his last few years. So he should voted to the HOF?
Nonsense.
Address Mark Strotman or myself (bye the bye, we are definitely not the same person), and expect to be rebutted by facts and figures.
My suggestion- put emotion aside, and let intellect rule.
If Kurt Warner is a Hall of Famerer then so is Sterling Sharpe. Warner gets recognition because he played QB but Sharpe was a better player and more consistent.
When Kurt was good he was incredible but when he was bad he was terrible. Unfortunately he wasn’t good enough, consistently enough.
Warner is more Dainty Fumblepepper or Jim Everett than Favre or Marino.
Excellent article, one of the best I’ve read in a while. Agree with everything. Didn’t read a single comment so I have no idea what anybody else said though.
If I felt that the idea that was being presented was dumb then yeah, certainly, I would call some one dumb. What would that hurt your feelings? Your a big boy, so is Strotman, I feel his argument against Warner being in the HOF is asinine and I made my feelings known…big deal. This a relaxed setting here to share feelings, not the front page in the Journal Sentinel. The fact that I called him a “chump” was a complete joke so take it easy and chill out everyone.
I can see both the pro & con side having valid points.
This is the reason for the five year waiying period —
One factor I always take into consideration when it comes
to a players HOF worthiness is:
Can you write an accurate history of the NFL without
this player?
I don’t think you can without Kurt Warner. Included with the
dominance he did have for 7 years makes me say he’s just
this side of yes (at this point–ask me again in 5 years)