Let me begin by saying how honored I am to be joining these six well deserving, character-driven men as part of the class of 2017. And how humbled I feel to be joining this new team made up of men that I’ve admired and tried to emulate ever since I first picked up a football. For those who have witnessed my career from the outside, you will undoubtedly use the milestones, Super Bowls, MVPs and of course tonight, the defining moments of my career. But if there is one thing this process has revealed, it’s that those pinnacle accomplishments on the field were simply byproducts of the moments that would lay the foundation of the man who stands here this evening. Moments that you have heard about, and even fewer have witnessed. Moments that no matter how insignificant they seemed at the time, would become the backdrop of my story. Moments that would shape my character and set the stage for one unforgettable journey.
Like the moment I visualized this for the first time. The moment that tonight became a possibility. Growing up a huge football fan, my Sunday’s were spent watching every game I could find on TV. At the culmination of the games, I would grab my jersey, a term I used lightly because it was really just a t-shirt with a number on it. Then I would head outside to reenact my version of the games. My Jersey didn’t have a nameplate. So I pull out the masking tape and create my own. Then I write out the last name of the man who would be the star of that day’s show. Most of the QBs sitting behind me, who played in that era, donned the back of my jersey at least once. My front yard played host to Broadway Joe, Bart Starr, Lenny Dawson, Johnny U, Bob Griese, Fran Tarkenton, The Snake, Dan Fouts, and of course: Roger the Dodger. The only name I don’t ever recall writing: was Bradshaw. See, I grew up a Cowboys fan, so no matter how great he was, there was no way I was wearing a jersey with a Steeler QB on the back. Especially that Steeler QB who broke my heart twice on Super Sunday growing up (I’m sorry Terry, you know I love you now).
I spent the greater part of my childhood trying to be these incredible players. I practiced their throwing motions and their movements thinking that is how I would get here. Then one afternoon, that all changed. This particular Sunday played out like all the others until it came time to write a name on the back of my jersey. I went through all the usual suspects until settling on one I was sure had never made the cut before. It would be the first time that I wore a jersey with this name on it. And it would be the last name that I ever wore on my jersey: W-A-R-N-E-R.

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