Kurt Warner left heartbroken

TAMPA, Fla. - As the ball slipped out of his hand and to the plush turf with seven seconds to play, the chance for history was lost for Kurt Warner.

The chance to become the first quarterback to lead two teams to a Super Bowl victory disappeared. The chance to lead the Cardinals to their first NFL championship was gone.

And for Warner the 27-23 loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday was a reminder of how close he has been to athletic immortality in an out-of-nowhere career and how far the emotions can fall.

Warner's first Super Bowl ended with his St. Louis teammate Mike Jones tackling Tennessee wide receiver Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line on the game's final play in Super Bowl XXXIV.

Two years later, he was standing on the sideline at the Superdome as Adam Vinatieri's field goal sailed through the goal posts with seconds left in New England's upset of the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

And on Sunday, Warner was 35 seconds from victory when Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger connected for a 6-yard go-ahead score. Any chance for his comeback was wiped away when LaMarr Woodley swiped the ball from his hands, allowing Brett Kiesel to come up with the ball.

Perspective is difficult to come by, especially when a second Super Bowl ring has been snatched in the final seconds, but Warner had perspective Sunday night.

"When you're in this game, you want to be part of the best games," Warner said. "I've been fortunate to play in three Super Bowls and three great football games. Do I wish we would've won one or two more? No question."

Warner finished his third Super Bowl with 377 passing yards, completing 31-of-43 passes for three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter to Larry Fitzgerald, with the last one - a 64-yard completion - giving the Cardinals a 23-20 lead with 2:37 left.

Warner stood that close to a second ring after seeing the first half end with his pass to Anquan Boldin returned 100 yards for a touchdown by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison.

He picked apart the Steelers defense from then on as the Cardinals toyed with the NFL's top-ranked defense by spreading them out. But like he had to in Super Bowl XXXVI with New England's Tom Brady, he watched helplessly from the sideline as Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win two Super Bowls.

A free agent, Warner has talked about retirement, but that decision will be made in a few weeks.

"I don't want to make any emotional decisions on anything," Warner said.

As he answered the questions, Warner seemed at peace, but his offensive coordinator Todd Haley, the former Cowboys assistant, knew better.

"I know Kurt Warner as a football player, and I can say as fact the only thing he cares about is winning a Super Bowl," Haley said.