Age: 28
5th season in pro football, 2nd in NFL & with Rams
College: Northern Iowa
Height: 6’2” Weight: 220
Prelude:
An undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa who failed to catch on with the Green Bay Packers in 1994, Warner played for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League and earned another shot at the NFL with the Rams, who allocated him to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe for the spring 1998 season. He made the Rams as the third string QB in ’98 and was expected to back up new arrival Trent Green in 1999, but a season-ending injury to Green during the preseason thrust Warner into the starting lineup.
1999 Season Summary
Appeared and started in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Passing
Attempts – 499 [7, tied with Elvis Grbac]
Most attempts, game – 46 at Tennessee 10/31
Completions – 325 [4]
Most completions, game – 29 at Tennessee 10/31
Yards – 4353 [2]
Most yards, game – 351 at Carolina 12/5
Completion percentage – 65.1 [1]
Yards per attempt – 8.7 [1]
TD passes – 41 [1]
Most TD passes, game – 5 vs. San Francisco 10/10
Interceptions – 13 [14, tied with Brad Johnson & Tim Couch]
Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Baltimore 9/12, at Detroit 11/7, at Carolina 12/5, at Philadelphia 1/2/00
Passer rating – 109.2 [1]
300-yard passing games – 9
200-yard passing games – 14
Rushing
Attempts – 23
Most attempts, game - 3 (for 26 yds.) at Detroit 11/7
Yards – 92
Most yards, game – 26 yards (on 3 carries) at Detroit 11/7
Yards per attempt – 4.0
TDs – 1
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points - 6
Postseason: 3 G
Pass attempts – 121
Most attempts, game - 45 vs. Tennessee, Super Bowl
Pass completions – 77
Most completions, game - 27 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Passing yardage – 1063
Most yards, game - 414 vs. Tennessee, Super Bowl
TD passes – 8
Most TD passes, game - 5 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Interceptions – 4
Most interceptions, game - 3 vs. Tampa Bay, NFC Championship
Rushing attempts – 6
Most rushing attempts, game - 3 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Rushing yards – 3
Most rushing yards, game - 3 vs. Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Average gain rushing – 0.5
Rushing TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
NFL MVP: AP, PFWA, NEA, Bert Bell Award, Sporting News
1st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Rams went 13-3 to win NFC West and gain top playoff seed in conference while leading the NFL in points scored (526) and touchdowns (66). Won Divisional playoff over Minnesota Vikings (49-37), NFC Championship over Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-6), and Super Bowl over Tennessee Titans (23-16).
Aftermath:
Warner led the NFL in completion percentage (67.7) and yards per attempt (9.9) in an injury-interrupted 2000, had another MVP year in 2001, when the Rams returned to the Super Bowl but were upset by the New England Patriots. However, a hand injury during the ’02 season greatly hampered his effectiveness, and he lost his starting job in 2003. After a year with the New York Giants, in which he paved the way for rookie QB Eli Manning, Warner moved on to the Arizona Cardinals and revived his career. He led the Cardinals to an NFC Championship following the 2008 season and retired after another productive, division-winning year in 2009.
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).
[Updated 2/15/14]
