Kurt Warner, Trent Green, and the 1999 St. Louis Rams Preseason

On August 28, 1999, the St. Louis Rams defeated the San Diego Chargers 24–21 in a preseason game that became one of the most consequential in NFL history. Rams starting quarterback Trent Green completed all 11 of his passing attempts for 166 yards and a touchdown to Isaac Bruce — an extraordinary performance — before tearing a ligament in his knee after a hit by Chargers safety Rodney Harrison. The injury ended his season before it began. Az Hakim, a fourth-round draft pick, returned two punts for touchdowns — 89 and 80 yards. The backup quarterback, a largely unknown player named Kurt Warner, would step in to replace Green. Warner went on to lead the Rams to Super Bowl XXXIV, win NFL MVP, and cement one of the greatest single-season stories in league history. The recap of this game is linked inside 'Murica Web as a headline from the era.