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Yes, you did read that correctly.
46-year old former Los Angeles Rams Superbowl-winning QB Kurt Warner nearly re-joined the NFL this spring.
The pioneer of the Greatest Show on Turf offense seriously almost laced up again.
No, not as a coach. As a player. He legitimately talked to an NFL team about returning to the field since retiring in 2010. Take a listen:
Kurt Warner talking about how he entertained the idea of trying to play in 2018 pic.twitter.com/HjfzJjE7EF
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) May 8, 2018
Per CBS Sports, here is what Warner had to say about the almost-return to the field:
“I was actually ready to, for this coming season, I actually talked to a coach and my wife said, ‘Go for it, I think it would be great,’” Warner said, via Rotoworld’s Patrick Daugherty. “So I actually talked to a coach about possibly doing it if they needed someone, but then they went out and signed somebody. I don’t think they thought I was serious. So I think we’re completely done now.”
He was then asked if he missed playing, to which he responded:
“Oh my gosh, come on!” he said. “Anytime you play at this level and you step away from it, especially when you stay connected to it -- I think that’s the hard part, is analyzing it and covering the games and doing that kind of stuff, anytime you’re around it ... and especially since I feel really, really good. So I’m like ‘I think I could still play. I think I could still throw it.’”
Warner did understand it was far-fetched, though:
“I don’t know if I would ever really do it, because it’s easy to sit up here and go, ‘I feel great, I can throw it in my backyard, I could still play in the NFL,’” Warner explained. “I have too much respect for the game and those guys. But there have been moments where I was like, I feel so good and I look at the state of the quarterbacks sometimes in the league and say, I think I could do it better than them if I could get back up to form and spend some time. I’m just hoping that one team, at some point, gives me another 7-on-7. Just give me 20 plays and let me see if I can still do it.”
To actually think that it nearly happened is honestly mind-blowing. Warner last threw a pass in 2010.
Newly drafted first-round LB of the Buffalo Bills (Tremaine Edmunds) was 11 years old the last time Warner threw an NFL pass. Think about that.
I’m not sure on the statistic, but would Warner have been the first player ever to be inducted into the HOF and yet somehow still play?
Incredible stuff.