A Legendary Alumnus Honored
Kurt Warner, the celebrated former NFL quarterback and University of Northern Iowa alumnus, will be honored on September 12 with the retirement of his jersey number 13 during a pregame ceremony at the UNI-Dome, just before the Panthers' home opener against Drake.
Warner’s collegiate journey began at Regis High School in Cedar Rapids before he transferred to UNI in 1989, where he excelled in football, basketball and baseball for the Royals, culminating in a 1993 Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Year award and a 2,747‑yard, 17‑touchdown senior season that propelled the Panthers into the NCAA Division I‑AA playoffs.
After going undrafted in 1994, Warner forged a remarkable professional path, first with the Iowa Barnstormers where he helped the team reach back‑to‑back ArenaBowl appearances, then with the St. Louis Rams, leading the franchise to a Super Bowl XXXIV championship in 1999 and earning two NFL MVP honors, a Hall of Fame induction in 2017 and four Pro Bowl selections.
The ceremony, scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. Central Time, will feature the official retirement of Warner’s number 13, the distribution of 1,000 replica jerseys to early‑arriving fans, and the presence of his family, marking the fifth of 19 planned retirements as part of UNI Athletics’ 2026 sesquicentennial celebration.
Live coverage will be provided by ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network, underscoring the significance of Warner’s impact on both college and professional football and his lasting legacy within the UNI community.