In case you missed the press conference that the Arizona Cardinals held on Wednesday, watch the video above to see as team president Michael Bidwill announced that the team would add Warner to the team's Ring of Honor, adding his name to the 13 that are already immortalized in University of Phoenix Stadium at halftime of the team's first regular season game when they are on Monday Night Football.
"Its' our hope that this being the first year of Kurt's eligibility to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, that this starts off the year the right way," said Bidwill. "We think it's a great big stage we can celebrate Kurt's great career in the NFL."
Warner began by saying he was "humbled and honored to be recognized in this way and to go down in the history of the Cardinal organization in this fashion."
He was "humbled" to be among names of people he knows and respects -- Dan Dierdorf, Aeneas Williams and others.
"I want to make sure when a team invests in me that they get their investment worth," he told the media about his mindset when he joined any team. "And I'm honored to think that now, going in the Ring of Honor, that hopefully that shows that (the Cardinals) were happy with (their) investment.
"I'm glad that it worked out for both of us."
When he joined the Cardinals, leaving New York in free agency after being replaced by Eli Manning, he wanted to be a starter "because I felt I could be productive and could help a team win."
He called Arizona "an awesome spot to go" because of the reputation of the team at that time (bad) and where people thought he was in his career (washed up) and called it "a great marriage."
It didn't go the way he had hoped, at least to start. He contemplated retirement when things weren't going well -- which can be assumed that was when the starting job was given to Matt Leinart. However, in 2008 when he was given the chance to compete for the starting job and he wrested the job from Leinart, the rest was history.
He led the team, and he was very careful to recognize that what he accomplished in his career would not have happened without great teammates, to heights it had not reached.
"I know we didn't win (the Super Bowl) here, but we were good enough to win it," he said.
In the end, after two straight seasons in the playoffs and a Super Bowl appearance, he had his legacy intact. "I don't know if you could write it any better," he said.
It is true. He spoke as a man very conscious of where he came from, what he accomplished and spoke of legacy. He continues to use his platform to improve lives and make an impact, now with his charity work.
He did say that he feels ha could play right now, but he had to retire when he did because of the mental drain and the standard he had set was so high, to maintain it would either be a detriment to the football side (not reaching the bar) or his family (taking more time away from them).
He had a storybook start to his career and a resurrection of sorts in Arizona, ending it almost in perfect fashion as if it were another work of fiction.
While he was with the team for several seasons, it was his impact in two that really made the difference. It truly is amazing that one player could have so much impact in such a short time, but that defines Warner's meaning to the franchise.
And that's why his name will forever be a part of the Cardinals stadium and their history.
