To set the record straight, I'm neither a Steelers fan nor a Cardinals fan, but the other day while I was watching the Super Bowl Media Day, Kurt Warner's interview impressed me, and I'm here to share it with.
Some have said being famous can swell one's ego, Kurt Warner stared the beast of adversity right into the eyes and proved everyone wrong. Before his interview, Kurt, the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback walked on stage with a book in his hand, the Bible! To my knowledge, this was not a publicity stunt, just an act of faith.
When asked if he would play any more seasons in the NFL, Kurt stated his obedience and trust in the LORD. He told the press that he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be an NFL quarterback, and that if it's God's plan for him to keep playing, then he will.
Kurt's story is a profound one. After his college football days were over, Kurt was not drafted in the NFL Draft. He did attend the Green Bay Packers Summer camp but was cut before the season started. Kurt spent the next year as a stocker/bagger in a grocery store. In 1995, He went to play in the Arena Football League, where he became one of the top 20 AFL players of all time.
He was not an overly religious person until he was 25, when his teammates in the Arena Football League introduced him to new ideas. He really had been down on his luck and thought it might be time to put his life and faith in the hands of God. And from that moment, his life changed.
Then one day, Kurt was called up by the St. Louis Rams in 1998 and was signed. However, Kurt was the backup QB and played in only one game during that season. In 1999, Kurt's whole life changed in the NFL.
In the 1999 season, Kurt:
--Started the season with 14 touchdown passes in four games. He had FIVE touchdowns in the game against San Fransisco to the shock of, well, everyone.
--Made the cover of Sports Illustrated in October with the headline “Who IS this guy?”
--Completed his breakout season by leading the Rams to the Super Bowl title.
--Set two huge records in the Super Bowl. He had 45 pass attempts with no interceptions and he also passed for 414 yards.
--He was named NFL’s MVP and the Super Bowl MVP. The only other players to accomplish the double MVP are Joe Montanta, Emmitt Smith, Terry Bradshaw, Steve Young, and Bart Starr. Pretty elite crowd!
Then, his luck began to change, he was cut from the Rams, and all he wanted was to find a home in the NFL. After a year, He became a backup QB to the young Eli Manning, and then started for the Giants until Eli was ready to lead the team. Once again, Kurt was out of a job after Eli was prepared.
The Arizona Cardinals spotted him, and he then became the backup QB to former USC quarterback Matt Leinart. He also then became the starter, and he stayed there.
As you can tell, Kurt and the Cardinals have had an amazing season, they are the underdogs who overcame all odds.
When Kurt is asked about about his incredible story, he says it was all possible because of Jesus.
We, as Christians, have to overcome many challenges in our lives to live for Christ and be known as a true God-fearing person. By hearing the Kurt Warner story, we are given a real life example as to the wonders God can perform, and how, what we consider, insurmountable odds can be easily defeated with the power of God.
“Many have said that if my life was a script in Hollywood, it would never be believed. But I am where I am because I believed and never gave up.” ~ Kurt Warner
