Will Kurt Warner Retire?

Kurt Warner told reporters on Tuesday that there is no other team he’d like to retire with. In his Hall of Fame career, Warner is one of the few quarterbacks who was able to bring two different teams to the Super Bowl, one of those teams for the first time in franchise history.

 

There is no question I want to finish my career as an Arizona Cardinal,” Warner said. “If I am going to play, I don’t want it to be anywhere else.”

 

If he does decide to stay with the Cardinals, it will be to the sweet tune of $18-20 million two-year contract extension. That amount of money is respectively hard to pass up. However, Warner told reporters that his decision will be made in time (two to three weeks according to local AZ commentary), and will be based on his faith, his family, and not on what occurred Sunday or how well he thinks he can play.

 

“It’s never about touchdown passes and winning games and all that stuff… Obviously that plays into it and it is fun, and that’s why I play the game, but that will not be the determining factor on me coming back or not coming back…I suppose when I get all the information and sit back and pray about it, we’ll see what God wants me to do.”

 

Kurt Warner’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told local Arizona newspapers that the decision will be made at the right time, in the right state of mind, and in the right way.

 

“It’s a grueling, brutal sport,” Bartelstein said. “Any player in his 30s… wants to make sure he’s doing things for all the right reasons.”

 

Warner has had a tumultuous football career, stretching from arena play to Europe, to the Rams, Giants, and finally the Cardinals in 2005. Although he took the Rams to Super Bowl XXXIV and defeated the Tennessee Titans, it wasn’t until this 2008 season that he found his rhythm and confidence again.

 

Warner replaced Matt Leinart many times in the 2007 season, as Leinart continued to play poorly and accrue injuries. During the off-season, it was a battle for the starting QB position, and Coach Whisenhunt awarded the prize to Kurt Warner. He’s had his embarrassing moments, and his glory. It is plain to see that without Warner, the Arizona Cardinals would not have made it to Super Bowl XLIII, and would not have made history.

 

On Warner’s shoulders the Cardinals triumphed, while Leinart could only watch and hopefully learn. If Warner does decide to retire, will Leinart have what it takes to step in his shoes? Coming out of USC, most would have said he was better than Warner. But immaturity, inexperience, and injury have kept him from making a stand.

 

Kurt Warner is the heart of this Arizona team, and without him we are back to square one.

 

Subscribe to your favorite Phoenix team or sport or Follow us on Twitter.