Who is Kurt Warner?

Who is Kurt Warner? April 12, 2013

KURT WARNER

Host

Kurt Warner is the host of the new original reality series THE MOMENT, which premieres April 11, 2013.

While the football narrative of NFL quarterback Kurt Warner reads like a rags-to-riches Hollywood script, it is the story of a man filled with dignity, class and undeniable faith that captured the imagination of the sports world and beyond.  Warner continually beat the odds to quarterback two perennial doormat franchises to the Super Bowl and etched his name in the NFL record books along the way.

The first chapter of Warner’s tale was written in 1999 when he defied logic by emerging from obscurity to lead the St. Louis Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.  In that same year, Warner was named the NFL and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player and stood out as the spiritual leader of the Championship team.   For the next two years Kurt continued to be a dominant force in the NFL as the ringleader of what became known as the “Greatest Show on Turf.”  He led the Rams to two additional playoff appearances – including another Super Bowl – and received Pro Bowl honors for three consecutive years (1999-2001).  He also was one of a few NFL players to be recognized with two NFL MVP awards, receiving his second after the 2001 season.

After suffering from injuries and watching from the sideline, Warner was released by the Rams in 2004 and signed a one year contract with the New York Giants.  In March 2005, he was signed by the Arizona Cardinals where most football experts expected him to unceremoniously end his career.  In 2007, the veteran signal caller battled through an elbow injury to begin his renaissance with a passer rating of 89.9.  In 2008, he led the Cardinals to their first ever Super Bowl berth, was voted to his fourth Pro Bowl, and surpassed several Cardinals’ franchise records including touchdowns, attempts, completions, completion percentage and passer rating.

Arguably at his best in the postseason, Warner earned several NFL career postseason records (passing yards per game, career completion percentage, yards per attempt).  Warner holds the second most career passing yards in a Super Bowl with 1,156 and notched the top three passing performances in Super Bowl history.

After a 12-year career, Warner retired from the NFL following the 2009 season with a performance that continued to establish his name in the record books.  His post-NFL career has proved anything but relaxing as he continues to impress with his football knowledge in broadcasting with the NFL Network and also a brief stint at Fox Sports.  Warner’s inspiring perspective on life captivates crowds as a motivational speaker and in 2010 he joined the cast of TV’s hottest show, Dancing with the Stars – Season 11, where he placed a respectable 5th thanks to his charm, charisma, competitive spirit, and growing fan base. In the winter of 2013, Kurt will host a new original reality series THE MOMENT on USA Network.

Kurt Warner has reached the pinnacle of success on the field. But, his gridiron accomplishments pale in comparison to the dedication he devotes to the community. In 2001, Kurt and his wife Brenda established the First Things First Foundation, a non-profit public charity dedicated to impacting lives by promoting Christian values, sharing experiences and providing opportunities to encourage everyone that all things are possible when people seek to put first things first.

First Things First has compiled an impressive philanthropic resume blessing countless children and families through the diverse programs of the foundation. A small sampling of First Things First’s outreach includes: hosting annual week-long trips to Disney World for children suffering from serious illnesses and their families; rewarding hard-working single mothers who achieve the dream of homeownership; raising over $875,000 for rebuilding efforts after the 2008 Midwest floods; collecting and distributing more than 150,000 coats from an annual coat drive in greater St. Louis; stuffing and personally delivering more than 80 stockings for a Christmas Day surprise for foster children, including the delivery of 10 tons of snow to the foster agency to build snowmen and enjoy a traditional snowball fight; providing Mission: Possible! Scholarships to youth groups doing service-based mission trips; and fostering an attitude of inclusion for children and adults with special needs thru the CHEER program. (www.kurtwarner.org)

Some of Warner’s more recent accolades include the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, The Good Guy Award from the Pro Football Writers Association, USA WEEKEND’s Most Caring Athlete, ABC World News Person of the Week, Forbes Magazine-America’s Most-Like Sports Figure, Sports Illustrated-Best Role Model, and the Bart Starr Award.

Kurt Warner lives in Arizona with his wife Brenda and seven children Zachary, Jesse Jo, Kade, Jada Jo, Elijah, and twins Sienna and Sierra.

This post is part of a sponsored promotion with USA Network to highlight The Moment. 


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