It’s Official: Kurt Warner To Retire After 12 Seasons In NFL, Brief Stint In Grocery Store

Via Pro Football Talk, we have video of Kurt Warner’s Friday press conference. Warner has retired after a 12-year NFL career. One interesting snippet:

Here’s the video.

With the news that former Ram and Cardinal great Kurt Warner will indeed be hanging up his cleats, SB Nation’s Turf Show Times reflects on what he meant to St. Louis:

Ahh, yes…. The first question that Warner’s retirement prompts is whether he is, indeed, a Hall-of-Fame quarterback. While the writer above seems to think it’s a foregone conclusion, others have their doubts. But courtesy of SportingNews.com, at least two hall of fame quarterbacks think Warner belongs right next to them in Canton:

So does he belong in the Hall of Fame? His story’s certainly compelling enough to merit inclusion in any historical account of pro football, and anyone that’s ever rooted against him in a big game knows the feeling all too well—when he was playing well, he could be downright terrifying for the opposition. Hall of fame or not (and he’ll probably make it), he was always a class act and a great player, and someone that fans will remember for a long, long time.

From ESPN’s Trey Wingo, Kurt Warner’s Friday press conference is schedule for 3 p.m. ET. It is believe that Warner, 38, will announce his retirement from football. He will also reportedly address his plans for the future, which may involve coaching or broadcasting.

NFL’s Jason La Canfora is reporting that Kurt Warner will announce his retirement at the Friday press conference he has planned. Warner is expected to discuss his post-retirement plans, which could include broadcasting or coaching, both of which would mean he isn’t technically in retirement, now wouldn’t they?

Next stop: The great debate over whether or not Warner is a hall of famer. The definitive answer from the staff at SB Nation: maybe?

We will know whether or not Kurt Warner is going to continue playing football this Friday, according to Adam Schefter. Warner has reportedly be considering retirement since after the regular season ended, and a week ago said that he is praying that God “takes away the desire in me to play this game.”

That, combined with the fact that Warner has made a decision so quickly, suggests that the 38-year-old Cardinals QB is going to call it quits. If he does indeed walk away, Arizona’s brief run atop the division may come to an end with Matt Leinart taking control of the offense. (Because he’s not very good, you see?)

Warner also said the pressure to be great is beginning to get to him. If he has a bad game, then people are asking, ’What’s wrong with Kurt Warner?’ When he turns in a high caliber performance, the feeling isn’t the same as it used to be because people have come to expect (and demand) those types of games.

Revenge of the Birds wonders if Warner’s situation will compare to another silver-haired quarterback that likes to talk about retirement.

After the Cardinals 51-45 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Kurt Warner’s lap around the stadium seemed to back up earlier reports that Warner is strongly considering hanging it up after the playoffs. The Cardinals will not play again at home this season and Warner took a lap around the field at University of Phoenix Stadium to high-five fans. When asked about it, however, Warner said it wasn’t about saying goodbye, rather a chance to say thanks.

Warner did admit that its not outside the realm of possibility that he will retire after this year, though that decision hasn’t been made yet.