06 Feb Super Bowl Hero, A Champion for the I/DD Field
With six seconds remaining, the receiver extended his outstretched arm attempting to put the nose of the ball over the goal line. Just as the first specs of pebbled leather were about to reach the endzone, the defensive linebacker snatched the receiver by the legs and pulled him to the ground. A team inches from victory in the Big Game, saw victory snatched by defeat. It took mere seconds, felt like several minutes, and the St. Louis Rams were winners of Super Bowl XXXIV.
The game’s iconic ending finished with Kevin Dyson (WR – Tennessee Titans) being tackled at the 1-yard line by Mike Jones (LB – St. Louis Rams), but this image actually solidified the legend of Rams MVP and Hall of Fame quarterback, Kurt Warner. By now, you probably know the story: cut by multiple NFL teams, then was bagging groceries while moonlighting as the play caller for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League. It took the Rams top quarterback, Trent Green, to suffer a season ending injury during the 1999 pre-season, before Warner was thrusted off the bench and into the starting position. He then led his team to a 13-3 record, finishing the season with the Lombardi Trophy in his hand!
You never know when your number is going to be called, both on and off the field. In 2018, nearly two decades after his famed Super Bowl victory, Warner met another impactful calling head on. Kurt and his wife, Brenda’s, eldest son Zack suffered a traumatic brain injury as a child. Not to be detoured, they were inspired by their son’s setback. Both parents steadfastly believed people with I/DD should be part of a community, developing meaningful relationships and contributing to society in a valuable way. They partnered with numerous allies, including another team that Kurt guided to the Super Bowl (XLIII), the Arizona Cardinals, to establish Treasure House Phoenix. Zack lives at Treasure House, and like many of his peers, participates in vocational, educational, and volunteer opportunities, as well as programming to develop life skills, set goals, and gain responsibilities.
“Treasure House has the ability to take this group of what everybody looks at as underdogs and say, ‘Destiny belongs to you. The future belongs to you. You can walk in your purpose. You can live in your dreams,’” Warner says. “Parents and families are starting to hope and dream for something bigger because of Treasure House.”
Treasure House continues its work eight years later, contributing to a solution for post-high school options, facilitating an increased quality of life for families and individuals impacted by I/DD. It provides a bridge for sustainable supports, community, and purpose.
Kurt Warner might be most remembered for leading “The Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams to a championship. However, his greatest victory may have come off the field as a true champion for his son and providing opportunities to develop winners in the I/DD community.