Kurt Warner has put together one of the most unique careers in NFL history. I can't think of another quite like it. He came out of nowhere to become a two-time league MVP and a Super Bowl champion. He was benched, then released. He was salvaged, then redeemed.

In two different stages of Warner's career, when it appeared hopeless for him and for two down-and-out franchises, Warner dramatically elevated the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals to elite Super Bowl status. And by lugging the Rams and Cardinals to the mountaintop, against all odds, he also reached the apex of his profession ... twice.

"Kurt's history shows what resilience he has just because of where he came from to get to the top and then having a down period and still believing in himself and coming back from that," Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Not much surprises me with Kurt anymore about what he can do and how special he is."

And the Warner story isn't close to ending.

At 38, Warner seems to be getting younger instead of older. And that's appropriate, given that this is the 10-year anniversary of the 1999 Rams' Super Bowl championship season. Warner is playing nearly as well now as he did then. As Warner leads the 6-3 Cardinals into the Edward Jones Dome for Sunday's 3:05 p.m. NFC West matchup against the Rams, a flurry of pleasant if fuzzy memories will fill the dome. "Some days it seems like it was just yesterday," Warner said of his glory days in St. Louis. "Other days it seems like it's been a long time since I was there and we were doing our thing."

Warner's fondness for St. Louis and the fans hasn't faded. His desire to contribute to the St. Louis community hasn't waned. The annual "Warner Warmup" in St. Louis — a winter coat-collection drive for the needy initiated by Kurt and wife Brenda — is underway.

Where will this remarkable story end? I believe it will come to a close in Canton, Ohio, with Warner's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It will be a subject for discussion and debate after he retires, but Warner has my vote. Consider:

— Over the last 25 years, 14 quarterbacks have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Warner's completion percentage and yards per passing attempt is higher than any of the 14, and only Steve Young has a superior QB rating.

— Of the 14 Hall of Famers, only Dan Marino has more 300-yard passing games than Warner. Warner's career totals for completions and passing yards exceed the numbers posted by five of the 14. His 200 touchdown passes are more than four of the 14. And he's accomplished this in 118 games; the 14 Hall of Famers played an average of 186 games in their careers.

— Warner holds multiple NFL records, including most passing yards per game (263.6), most games with a perfect passer rating (three), best single-game completion percentage (93.3), and most consecutive 300-yard passing games (six). He ranks second in NFL history in completion percentage (65.5), fifth in passer rating (93.6), fifth for most 300-yard passing games (51) and sixth in passing yards per attempt (7.95.).

— Six QBs have won multiple MVP awards. Three — Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning — are active. But the other three are in the Hall, Joe Montana, John Unitas and Young.

— Warner has passed for 300 or more yards in 43.2 percent of his career games, the highest percentage in NFL history. He is the only QB in league history to pass for at least 14,000 yards with two different teams. He was the fastest quarterback to reach his 50th 300-yard passing game, getting there in 114 games. Marino previously held that distinction, hitting No. 50 in 176 games.

— Warner stands among the finest postseason quarterbacks in NFL history. He was the MVP of Super Bowl 34. His postseason record is 8-3. Brady and Warner are among 10 quarterbacks to start three Super Bowls; the other eight are already in the Hall of Fame. Warner has the two highest passing-yards totals for an NFL postseason, with 1,147 yards for Arizona in 2008 and 1,063 for the Rams in 1999. Warner has the three highest single-game passing totals in Super Bowl history. He has the most career passing yards (1,156) in Super Bowl history. He's passed for 365 yards or more in five of his 11 postseason games. His 26 postseason touchdown passes are tied for sixth, all-time. His postseason QB rating of 96.7 is among the best.

The one knock on Warner's career is the down time from 2002 through 2006, when he started only 31 games. But Warner took a beating in the wide-open Rams offense from 1999-2001, suffering multiple concussions as well as a hand injury that affected his grip on the football. Warner needed time to heal and recover.

But Warner played amazingly well before, and after, the injury phase of his career. The injury factor shouldn't exclude him from Canton — no more than it prevented Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers from being voted into the Hall of Fame.

"All I can say is that I'm honored, I'm humbled, and I'm amazed at what God choose to do with me," Warner said. "In this field, when it looked so bleak and you never thought I was going to make it and then you're sitting here 12 years later. It's just an honor to still be playing and to have my name mentioned with some of the greats in the game."

Warner will be a Hall of Fame quarterback. He's already qualified as a Hall of Fame person.

Rams vs. Cardinals3:05 p.m. Sunday, KTVI (Ch. 2)