Kurt Warner
UNI 150: People you should know
The underdog becomes a Super Bowl MVP
Kurt Warner’s story isn’t defined by instant stardom – it’s shaped by perseverance, patience and an unshakable belief in his own potential.
Long before winning a Super Bowl, Warner was a quarterback at UNI – but had limited playing time until his senior year. When his opportunity finally came, he earned the Gateway Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference honors.
Kurt graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in communications. When the NFL didn’t call, Warner picked up a job at Hy-Vee in Cedar Falls, stocking shelves to pay the bills, and he returned to UNI to work as a graduate assistant coach.
From there, his journey took him to the Arena Football League with the Iowa Barnstormers, and eventually to the St. Louis Rams, where the rise to professional sports history began. Warner would be the ringmaster of the “Greatest Show on Turf,” leading the Rams to a Super Bowl win, earning Super Bowl MVP honors, and would later be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kurt Warner has maintained a constant connection to UNI, often supporting today’s student athletes in their own journeys. He joined the Panther cheering section during UNI basketball tournament runs in 2015 and 2016, and has also returned to campus to give pep talks to UNI’s student athletes, sharing lessons of perseverance. October 2022 found Warner again back on campus, helping launch UNI’s “Our Tomorrow” campaign, and riding in the UNI homecoming parade.
“Thirty years ago, I was sitting in one of those same seats, wondering what my future held and whether I’d ever reach my dream,” Warner told the UNI football team. “My journey was different from everyone else’s. No one else can say they walked the path I walked. Go write your own journey, and don’t allow anyone or any circumstance define who you are or what you can become.”
Hollywood’s version of the Kurt Warner story is showcased through the feature film “American Underdog,” tracing its roots from the University of Northern Iowa to the world’s largest stage for professional sports.
Celebrate 150 years of the University of Northern Iowa by nominating individuals who have made a significant impact on our campus, community and beyond.
