Kurt Warner’s football career smelled more like cardboard boxes and floor wax in the summer of 1994. He went undrafted, was cut by Green Bay, and, before he could throw his first NFL pass, spent his nights stocking shelves at an Iowa Hy-Vee grocery store for $5.50 an hour. Back then, few could have imagined that those same hands would one day lift the Lombardi Trophy. Yet, through sheer persistence and stints in other football leagues, he eventually reached the very top of the sport.
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Thirty-two years later, Warner is no longer the one fighting for a roster spot, but the frustration of being overlooked has followed him into fatherhood. His son, E.J., put together a productive four-year college career but still went undrafted in 2026 and failed to secure an NFL contract. Watching the league’s door remain closed to a quarterback whose college resume far exceeds his own, the Hall of Famer finally took to social media with a direct appeal to all 32 NFL teams.
“When I was bouncing around, surviving & playing in every league under the sun… all I ever wanted was a CHANCE… a chance to prove IF I belonged!! he wrote on X.
“Now, I just want someone to give that chance to @elijah13warner so he can prove IF he belongs! After starting 35+ games & throwing for nearly 11k yrds… he deserves at least that chance (definitely deserves it more than I ever did!!)”
Today, his journey is viewed as arguably one of the greatest underdog stories in NFL history. But to understand the struggles, it’s important to take a look at what he went through. Kurt’s college career was far from impressive, especially compared to his son’s.
Unable to secure a scholarship at a top-tier school, he joined the University of Northern Iowa, an FCS program. He redshirted in 1989 and spent much of the next three years on the bench. He finally became the starter in 1993, during his fifth year, and made the most of it by winning Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. Still, NFL scouts weren’t convinced.
With a family to support, Warner took a job stocking shelves at a Hy-Vee grocery store before finding another opportunity in the Arena Football League. He joined the Iowa Barnstormers and quickly made a name for himself, throwing 183 touchdowns over three seasons. An opportunity with the Chicago Bears fell through in late 1997 after a spider or scorpion bit his throwing elbow during his honeymoon.
But the St. Louis Rams soon signed him and sent him to NFL Europe, where he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns with the Amsterdam Admirals. That finally earned him a place on the Rams’ roster in 1998 as their third-string quarterback.
His first season offered little playing time, as he only appeared briefly in the final game after injuries depleted the team’s quarterback room. Then, everything changed the following year.
The Rams had brought in Trent Green as their major free-agent acquisition, but a season-ending knee injury during the preseason left the team searching for a starting quarterback. Kurt was suddenly handed the responsibility. As he grabbed the reins, it marked the beginning of one of the NFL’s most remarkable underdog stories.
There was no turning back after that. Kurt’s Cinderella story reached its peak in the Super Bowl, where he threw for 414 yards, setting a new game record, and added two touchdown passes. He guided the Rams to their first championship while claiming the Super Bowl MVP award. Had he not been given a chance, the NFL would not have witnessed his magic.
This is a strong case for his son, who is undrafted after coming out of Fresno State. In August last year, E.J. became the starting quarterback after transferring from Rice. The younger Warner wrapped up his four-year-long college stint, racking up 10,844 yards and 71 touchdowns. In Fresno State, he had his career-high completion percentage of 69.3.
After going undrafted, he was one of 33 rookies who got a tryout at Denver’s rookie minicamp in May. Initially, the Warner family could see a silver lining after Broncos head coach Sean Payton had only good words to share about E.J.
“This Warner reminds me a lot of [former NFL QB] Chase Daniel. If you see his height, weight, size, speed, they’re very similar,” Payton said of Warner. “He’s done a nice job. He’s done a very nice job, and especially considering he’s coming off a weekend with different terminology, and he’s kind of yawned at it. It’s been real quick for him.”
Daniel went undrafted out of Missouri in 2009 and was released by Washington before the season. Sean Payton then brought him onto the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad. Daniel moved between the practice squad and active roster during his rookie season before becoming Drew Brees’ primary backup in 2010. That opportunity helped him build a 14-year NFL career.
E.J., however, hasn’t received a similar second chance. Despite impressing at rookie minicamps with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos in May, no team offered him a contract.
His 6-foot frame and 48 interceptions across four college seasons may have worked against him. Denver also needed an extra quarterback while starter Bo Nix recovered from an ankle injury, but the Broncos eventually decided not to sign Warner. He has remained without an NFL contract since.
With NFL opportunities still limited, another door could open in a familiar city. In late October, the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks hinted at a possible reunion between the Warner name and the city where Kurt built his Hall of Fame career.
“We do love some Warner football in St. Louis. Would you want to see E.J. Warner land with the Battlehawks in the 2027 UFL Draft?” the team posted on X.
That opportunity could come soon. The 2027 UFL Draft is scheduled for November 18 in downtown St. Louis, with the Battlehawks holding the fifth overall pick. E.J. could soon face a choice between continuing to wait for an NFL opportunity or taking the same spring football route that helped launch his father’s career nearly three decades ago.