"The quarterback called his final play.

One of the most incredible and inspiring journeys from obscurity to stardom ended when Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner announced his retirement from the NFL.

The decision to leave the game wasn't as much of a surprise as how Warner first broke into it. That took years, patience and many, many miles well traveled.

Warner helped resuscitate two franchises in the St. Louis Rams and the Cardinals, in the process becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 14,000 yards for two teams. Along the way, there were three trips to the Super Bowl and too many milestones and NFL records to mention.

Like his humble beginning, it wasn't always perfect. Warner's path to greatness included roadblock moments in St. Louis, New York and Arizona. He would be benched four times after winning his lone Super Bowl in 1999."