Kurt Warner

Warner missed five games in 2000 with a broken right little finger and the Rams exited in the first round of the playoffs. St. Louis stormed back the following season, and Warner, despite difficulties with his hand, earned MVP honors for the second time in three seasons, edging teammate and running back Marshall Faulk by one vote. Warner led the NFL in passing yards with 4,830, second most in league history, and touchdown passes.

In three postseason games, Warner completed sixty-eight of 107 passes for 793 yards with four touchdowns. The Rams, under Martz, who succeeded the retired Vermeil in 2000, beat Green Bay 45-17 and Philadelphia 29-24 to capture another NFC title, and were 14-point favorites to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans.

New England, however, won 20-17 on Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal as time expired. The Patriots forced Warner to throw two interceptions, one of which defensive back Ty Law returned for a 47-yard touchdown. Warner completed twenty-eight of forty-six passes and rallied St. Louis from a 17-3 fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game right before Vinatieri's winning kick. Warner ran for a two-yard touchdown and threw a twenty-six-yard pass to Ricky Proehl.