"Former St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner ended his storybook professional football career Friday, calling his time in the NFL "12 of the best years of my life."

Warner announced his retirement at a press conference in Arizona, during which he thanked the Rams organization, specifically late owner Georgia Frontiere and current part owner Stan Kroenke, for giving him his initial opportunity to play.

Warner made his NFL debut with the Rams during the final game of the 1998 season. The next year, he led them to a championship, capping an unbelievable rise from obscurity to his becoming the NFL and Super Bowl MVP.

Friday's announcement came one day shy of the 10th anniversary of that Super Bowl victory, when he passed for 414 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Warner, 38, played for the Rams (1998-2003), New York Giants (2004) and Arizona Cardinals (2005-09) during his career. He leaves the NFL as a potential Hall of Famer after throwing for 32,344 yards and 208 touchdowns, winning two MVP awards and appearing in three Super Bowls.

"It has been an amazing ride," said Warner, who was joined at his press conference by his wife, Brenda, and seven children. "I don't think I could have dreamt that it would have played out like it has, but I have been humbled everyday that I've woken up the last 12 years."

Warner retired with a year remaining on a two-year, $23 million contract he signed with the Cardinals before the 2009 season.

This year, he showed that he could still play at a high level, throwing for 3,753 yards and 26 touchdowns and leading the Cardinals to a second straight NFC West title. Along the way, he joined Fran Tarkenton as the only NFL quarterbacks to throw for 100 touchdowns for two teams.

"There is something to be said for being able to leave on your own terms and playing at the level you want to play at," Warner said. "I don't know if I could have handled playing at a lesser level. That would have frustrated me.""