Kurt Warner played quarterback for the Northern Iowa Panthers from 1989 to 1993, where he had a standout career. He was a two-time First Team All-Gateway Conference selection and a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in Division II football.

During his senior season in 1993, Warner led Northern Iowa to a 7-4 record while throwing for 3,032 yards and 31 touchdowns, which earned him the Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Year award. Despite his success at Northern Iowa, Warner went undrafted in the 1994 NFL Draft and struggled to find a team willing to give him a chance.

After playing in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe, Warner finally got his chance to start in the NFL in 1999 with the St. Louis Rams. He quickly established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the league, leading the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in his first season as a starter and winning two NFL MVP awards in 1999 and 2001. Warner also led the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl in 2008 and finished his career with over 32,000 passing yards and 208 touchdown passes.

Warner’s success in the NFL was a testament to his talent and perseverance, and his time at Northern Iowa played an important role in his development as a player. He has since been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.