Arizona Cardinals to Induct Kurt Warner Into Ring of Honor

October 4, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals former quarterback Kurt Warner acknowledges the fans during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals are going to make their next induction to their Ring of Honor at halftime of Monday night’s game against the San Diego Chargers. Quarterback Kurt Warner, who came to Arizona in 2005 to resurrect his career, led the Cards to Super Bowl XLIII and two NFC West titles, will receive the honor.

If Matt Leinart wasn’t ineffective and didn’t get injured, this may never have happened.  In 2005, Warner was trying to resurrect his career after a miserable stop with the New York Giants. The Giants had drafted Eli Manning and the pressure was great to play him when Warner wasn’t performing the way he did with the St. Louis Rams.  In 2006, he started just five games as the Cards thought Leinart was going to be the franchise quarterback.

In 2007, Warner ended up starting 11 games in Ken Whisenhunt’s first year as head coach. Then magic happened in 2008 and 2009.  The first NFC West title and a magical playoff run to the Super Bowl.  Then in 2009, the repeat as NFC West champions, one playoff victory before his last career game, a playoff loss in New Orleans.

People today still clamor for Warner to return and some seem to be half-serious about it.  Warner helped put the Cardinals on the national map again though, really for the first time since being in Arizona.  They had 15 seconds of glory with quarterback Jake Plummer but Warner is the one most will remember for what he did for the franchise.  Now he gets his well deserved honor.