The Benefit of Being Actively Patient
In the winter of 1994 a Division I-AA quarterback hoped for an invitation to the prestigious NFL Scouting Combine. As we saw previously, with the story of Tom Brady, the National Football League scouting combine is a must-attend for any aspiring, high-profile NFL star. The assumption in most eyes is, a future NFL star and Hall of Famer will undoubtedly earn an invitation to the prestigious NFL scouting combine.
For small college, University of Northern Iowa quarterback Kurt Warner the invitation never came.
An under the radar prospect out of high school, Warner received one scholarship offer. Similar to Brady, he lacked physique and measurable eye-popping skills. His strengths didn’t show well in scouting combine type environments and similarly to Brady, Warner couldn’t edge out the remaining competition on his college roster, only starting at quarterback for one season in his college career. Thus, no invitation to the combine in Indianapolis, Indiana that year for Warner.
As the combine came and went, Warner hired an agent and waited things out in preparation for the NFL draft. As expected for quarterbacks deemed not worthy enough to be invited to the biggest scouting event in the sport, Warner went undrafted. Of the 222 selections in the 1994 NFL draft, not one went to the 6-foot-2 quarterback from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
After talking things over with his agent, Warner had a few opportunities post-draft. His “best” offer was a $5000 signing bonus and a chance to be the fourth quarterback on the pre-season roster with the Green Bay Packers. Ahead of him on the depth chart would be the legendary Brett Favre as well as future All-Pro selection Mark Brunnell, and former Heisman trophy winner Ty Detmer. The former UNI Panther took the offer, eager to learn and grow with a strong quarterback room.
Unfortunately, Warner wouldn’t last in the quarterback room long. Most teams don’t carry four quarterbacks, and almost all teams don’t carry a fourth quarterback who was a one-year starter at a small college. Despite enjoying his summer with the Green Bay Packers, learning a lot, and meeting some great people, Warner now found himself in a real situation. Unemployed.
Not ready to give up on his playing career, but strapped for cash with a wife and two kids he had to find a way to train, and hope for another professional opportunity overseas in Europe or in the newly formed Arena Football League.
Kurt Warner, a college graduate and former starting quarterback of the Northern Iowa Panthers football team, was passed over by all teams in the NFL - twice. Once on draft day, and a second time after being released by the Green Bay Packers. If ever a crossroads for an aspiring athlete, here it was for Warner. With a family to provide for, and a lack of interest from professional teams, the time to change directions would never be easier. Instead, Warner decided on a different path.
Warner returned to the University of Northern Iowa for a volunteer position on his college team coaching staff while training in the early afternoon and on the side during practice. With his wife Brenda taking community college classes during the day, neither had an opportunity to earn any money. The couple moved into Brenda’s parents' unfinished basement, and supplemented their meals with food stamps. Warner picked up a job working overnight shifts at a Hy-Vee grocery store earning $5.50 an hour which was the minimum wage at the time.
Stay The Course
For many of us, this scene seems justifiable because we know how the story ends. Six months later, Warner gets signed by the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League and becomes one of the best players in the league. In 1997 after much success in the Arena Football League Warner headed to Europe on a short contract with the Amsterdam Admirals. After parlaying two successful stints in a row, his opportunity came in the NFL, this time with the St. Louis Rams.
As a backup quarterback on the Rams to Trent Green, Warner was significantly better in his craft than years ago shortly following his minor stint with the Green Bay Packers. In a preseason game for St. Louis, Trent Green went down with a season-ending injury. Thrusting the undrafted free-agent quarterback into the starting role. Like a far-fetched Disney movie, Warner leads the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title that same season. Hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in a surreal scene, the improbable run culminated in being named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.
He went on to have a long and illustrious career in the NFL. Two-time Most Valuable Player, four-time pro-bowler. His NFL career spanned 11 years. He played in three Super Bowls. He was inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2017.
Hopeful Wanderer
As we come across “Rags to Riches” stories like Warner’s we can be inspired for a short time. It’s great to see stories of people “making it.” But it can be so discouraging peaking at someone else’s “riches” and staring at our “rags.” We must do the scene justice. We must envision the reality of the journey.
In 1994 after being released by the Green Bay Packers: Kurt Warner’s daily routine was to spend the morning in his in-law’s unfinished basement, cold concrete floors, and drafty sleeping space for his wife and two kids. After spending time watching the kid’s while his wife went to community college, he would head to his early afternoon workout. After he got his work in he would stay and fulfill his duties as a volunteer assistant coach for the UNI Panthers. When practice was completed he would head home - his in-laws home, for dinner. He would tuck his kids in bed, as they wore sweatpants, and sweatshirts in the drafty unfinished basement during a bitter Iowa winter. After the kids were in bed he would head to his third-shift job at the Hy-Vee supermarket and stock shelves from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Come home and get a few hours of sleep, and start the day over again.
If you had a family friend living this life there is no question the rumblings of needing to “move on” would abound. If your brother-in-law was living this life there’s no doubt someone would prompt you to buy a cup of coffee and encourage him to “hang em up.”
“It was a good run man. We had some great memories. But now it’s time to get a real job. It’s time to stop the chase. This is ridiculous.”
I refuse to believe there wasn’t a day or two in that stretch where Kurt Warner didn't think to himself “What in the world am I doing?”
Actively Patient
In total, Kurt Warner worked the overnight shift at the Hy-Vee supermarket for around seven months. The future hall of fame quarterback (and millionaire) was patient. He kept the faith. He stayed the course.
However, Kurt Warner’s chapter in the supermarket aisle demonstrates the beauty of being actively patient. Kurt Warner demonstrates we must be patient, but patience is not sitting with our hands in our pockets. Patience is active. It’s on the go. It’s taking care of your family while chasing your dreams. It resembles a spartan lifestyle of training, working, and family. Kurt Warner didn't just hope an opportunity would come. He trained so that when the opportunity came, when the phone rang - he would be ready.
I’m sure he played differently in the Arena Football League than any other time in his young professional career. He played with images of sleepless nights, ketchup bottles on shelves, tuna cans on pallets in his memories. He played with the humility of having to explain in conversations why he was a Hy-Vee employee instead of an NFL quarterback. He played with images of Hy-Vee coworkers snickering at his explanation that he was only going to be using this gig until a pro-football opportunity came.
There is a hunger and determination built in experience only earned by being actively patient. Take the risk, do the work, when the opportunity comes. Don’t miss.
Stay The Course,
JB
Book of the week: Running For My Life by Lopez Lamong
Podcast episode of the week: Secrets To Winning Podcast with Brett McCabe: The Pillars of a National Championship Program with Tim Corbin
Article of the week: Fourth and Inches: How the 2012 Buckeye’s led to Mike Vrabel’s Titans (Subscription Required)
Thank you for visiting Staythecourseleaders.com. Be sure to check out my growing list of resources for leadership development below. Did someone forward you this email? Interested in signing up for a free weekly newsletter studying leadership, faith, culture, and the power of teams? Subscribe below.