Movie Based On Life of Kurt Warner to Be Released Later This Year
It's often been said that Kurt Warner's life and career were made for a movie. Ten years after his retirement from the NFL, that film is finally coming.
Warner, an Iowa native who grew up in Cedar Rapids, will be the focus of a biopic. It will be called 'American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story.' According to the website Conversationabouther, the film "will be distributed wide by Lionsgate this December." It will be based on his memoir, "All Things Possible: My Story Of Faith, Football and the First Miracle Season" along with interviews with Kurt.
Kurt's story is well-known, especially around here. He played quarterback for Cedar Rapids Regis, the University of Northern Iowa Panthers, and the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League. He worked at Hy-Vee while never giving up on a career in the NFL. All he needed was a chance. He got it in the fall of 1999.
An injury to Trent Green, the planned starting quarterback for the St. Louis Rams in 1999, opened the door for Kurt Warner. What ended up happening was nothing short of remarkable.
Warner's 1999 season with St. Louis was the stuff of legend. The man who had never started an NFL game threw 41 touchdown passes and led the Rams to a 13-3 regular-season record. He was named the NFL MVP and led his team to the Super Bowl championship. Just for good measure, he won the Super Bowl MVP, as well.
Two years later, after leading St. Louis to the playoffs for a third straight season and another Super Bowl (a 20-17 loss to New England), he was again named NFL MVP. He would also play for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals, leading them to the playoffs twice. The Cardinals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl in February of 2009.
In January of 2010, Warner retired from the league and in 2017 was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kurt Warner's faith always sustained him and he never missed an opportunity to share his love of God. It's still very important to him and his wife Brenda. Something else that's always been hugely important in Kurt's life, is his family. It was no surprise his entire family was at the 2010 press conference where he announced his retirement (photo in the gallery below).
Cedar Rapidians have always been proud to say that Kurt Warner grew up here. Here's hoping for a Cedar Rapids premiere for the movie and a visit from the man that would no doubt get a hero's welcome.