By Kirk Noonan
The trek to starting quarterback for the St. Louis Rams was not
an easy one for Kurt Warner. In 1994, he was an undrafted Division
I-AA collegiate quarterback with only one year as a starter for
experience. As a free agent, he tried out for the Green Bay Packers,
but was cut.
To make ends meet, he worked as a grocery clerk until the Iowa
Barnstormers, an Arena Football League team, offered him a spot
on their roster.
"After I got released [by Green Bay], it taught me that there
was more to life than just football," Warner told CNN/Sports
Illustrated.
In the years following his dismissal from the Packers, Warner played
three seasons for the Barnstormers, got married, adopted two children
and accepted Christ as his personal Savior — things that prepared
him for success in the NFL and especially in life.
His big NFL break came when the Rams sent him to the Amsterdam
Admirals of NFL Europe. There he held Bible studies for his teammates
and played well enough to be offered a contract with the Rams in
1998.
A season later, starting quarterback Trent Green was injured and
Warner became the starter. He was an instant sensation passing for
14 TDs in his first four games — an NFL record.
At a recent Billy Graham crusade in St. Louis, Mo., Warner spoke
of his relationship with Christ.
"I know you guys are not here because I can throw touchdown
passes or because I can win football games," he told the crowd
of 40,000. "You guys are here to hear me talk about my Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ."
Though Warner worked hard and sacrificed much to get to the NFL,
he takes no credit for his sudden success or stardom.
"There is just one secret to all my success," he said,
"Jesus Christ."
Kirk Noonan is staff writer for the Pentecostal Evangel.
