Kurt Warner (Late Bloomer)
Warner is perhaps the best example in NFL history of a player choosing to never give up on his dream of playing at the highest level. As an undrafted rookie, Warner failed to make Green Bay’s roster and ended up working in a grocery store for $5.50 an hour. Then came his three years in the Arena Football League and a stint in NFL Europe. Warner spent the 1998 season as the third-string quarterback for the Rams and was bumped up to backup in 1999. That’s when Trent Green got hurt and the rest, as they say, is history.
Warner would become the conductor of “The Greatest Show on Turf” while throwing for over 4,000 yards and 41 touchdowns. The Rams went on to win the Super Bowl that season with Warner winning league MVP and Super Bowl MVP. He went on to make a few more Pro Bowls and even had an Arena Football League video game created with his name attached to it.
