Kurt Warner plea for son E.J. Warner NFL chance, Digi Mart USA News: Kurt Warner’s football career began in unlikely fashion in the summer of 1994. He went undrafted, was cut by Green Bay, and, before throwing his first NFL pass, worked nights stocking shelves at an Iowa Hy-Vee grocery store for $5.50 an hour.
Through persistence and stints in other football leagues, he eventually reached the top of the sport and won a Super Bowl.
Now the frustration of being overlooked has passed to his son. E.J.
Warner put together a productive four-year college career but went undrafted in 2026 and did not secure an NFL contract. Watching the door stay closed to a quarterback whose college resume far exceeds his own, the Hall of Famer 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!!)”
Kurt Warner’s college career was far from impressive 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 became the starter in 1993, during his fifth year, and won Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors, but NFL scouts were still not convinced.
With a family to support, Warner took a job stocking shelves at a Hy-Vee grocery store before joining the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League. He threw 183 touchdowns over three seasons there.
An opportunity with the Chicago Bears fell through in late 1997 after a spider or scorpion bit his throwing elbow during his honeymoon. The St.
Louis Rams then signed him and sent him to NFL Europe, where he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns with the Amsterdam Admirals.
That earned him a spot on the Rams’ roster in 1998 as their third-string quarterback. He saw little playing time that season.
In 1999, the Rams’ free-agent acquisition Trent Green suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason, and Kurt was handed the starting job. The Rams went on to win their first championship, and Warner threw for 414 yards in the Super Bowl, setting a new game record, while adding two touchdown passes and earning Super Bowl MVP honors.
E.J. Warner, who played at Rice before transferring to Fresno State, became the starting quarterback there in August of last year.
He finished his four-year college career with 10,844 yards and 71 touchdowns and posted a career-high completion percentage of 69.3. After going undrafted, he was one of 33 rookies who received a tryout at Denver’s rookie minicamp in May.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke positively about him at the time. “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. “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.”
Despite impressing at rookie minicamps with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos, E.J. Warner did not receive a contract offer from any team.
His 6-foot frame and 48 interceptions across four college seasons may have worked against him. Denver needed an extra quarterback while starter Bo Nix recovered from an ankle injury but ultimately did not sign him, and he has remained without an NFL contract since.
Another path may be opening in St. Louis.
In late October, the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks posted on X: “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 2027 UFL Draft is scheduled for November 18 in downtown St. Louis, with the Battlehawks holding the fifth overall pick.
