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Just two days after being released by the St. Louis Rams, Kurt Warner signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the New York Giants, a deal that included a second-year option worth twice that amount.

Following a 4-12 campaign in 2003, the Giants fired head coach Jim Fassel and replaced him with Tom Coughlin. The more significant move of their offseason, however, was the acquisition of Eli Manning.

The San Diego Chargers held the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, but Peyton’s highly-touted younger brother refused to play for them. The Chargers drafted him anyway, as they’d already worked out a deal with the Giants, who held the No. 4 pick. New York would draft Philip Rivers and send him, a third-round selection, and a first- and third-rounder in 2005 to San Diego in exchange for Manning.

Warner was never in the Giants’ long-term plans.

Kurt Warner prepares to take a snap for the New York Giants during the 2004 NFL season
Kurt Warner of the New York Giants looks over the offensive line before the snap against the Arizona Cardinals | Donald Miralle/Getty Images
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The two-time NFL MVP began the 2004 campaign as the starter for New York and played decently enough to help the team win five of its first seven games. He wasn’t spectacular by any means but completed 64.8% of his passes for 1,539 yards (219.9 per game) during that opening stretch. And while he only threw four touchdown passes, he also only threw two interceptions.

However, following losses to the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, a two-game stretch in which he connected on just 56.1% of his targets, threw for an average of 194 yards, doubled his interception total, and watched his sack total jump to 39, Warner was benched as Coughlin felt it was the right time to give Manning a shot.

In his announcement to the press (h/t ESPN), Coughlin said Eli was “the future of the New York Giants” and that “we just need to make a change.”

Warner appeared in just one more game throughout the remainder of the season, completing six of nine passes for 127 yards in a 37-14 Week 14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

At the conclusion of the season, Warner chose not to exercise his second-year option and hit the free-agent market.

Read more about Kurt Warner’s NFL career:

Kurt Warner 2004 Stats

Passing Stats

GGSCMPATTCMP%YDSTDINTSACKSRTG
10917427762.82,054643986.5

Rushing Stats

GATTYDSTDFMB
101330112

Kurt Warner 2004 Game Log

Passing Stats

DATEWKOPPRESULTCMPATTYDSTDINTRTG
9/12/041@PHIL 31-1716282030079.9
9/19/042WASW 20-1422332321097.0
9/26/043CLEW 27-10192728600104.9
10/3/044@GBW 14-720261871192.9
10/10/045@DALW 26-1018332171085.0
10/24/047DETL 28-1323342701189.1
10/31/048@MINW 34-1313211440082.2
11/7/049CHIL 28-2118361951252.4
11/14/0410@ARIL 17-1419301931092.8
11/21/0411ATLL 14-10N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
11/28/0412PHIL 27-6N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
12/5/0413@WASL 31-7N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
12/12/0414@BALL 37-146912700109.7
12/18/0415PITL 33-30N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
12/26/0416@CINL 23-22N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
1/2/0517DALW 28-24N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A

Rushing Stats

DATEWKOPPRESULTATTYDSTDFMB
9/12/041@PHIL 31-171002
9/19/042WASW 20-140001
9/26/043CLEW 27-103-210
10/3/044@GBW 14-722200
10/10/045@DALW 26-101-101
10/24/047DETL 28-130003
10/31/048@MINW 34-132003
11/7/049CHIL 28-211302
11/14/0410@ARIL 17-143800
11/21/0411ATLL 14-10N/AN/AN/AN/A
11/28/0412PHIL 27-6N/AN/AN/AN/A
12/5/0413@WASL 31-7N/AN/AN/AN/A
12/12/0414@BALL 37-140000
12/18/0415PITL 33-30N/AN/AN/AN/A
12/26/0416@CINL 23-22N/AN/AN/AN/A
1/2/0517DALW 28-24N/AN/AN/AN/A

All stats, unless otherwise indicated, courtesy of Pro Football Reference

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