E.J. Warner, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Kurt Warner, has been named Fresno State‘s starting quarterback for the 2025 season. E.J. Warner enters his senior year with a history of playing at three different college teams and has accumulated more than 8,800 passing yards and 58 touchdowns.
Upon earning the starting quarterback position, E.J. Warner credited his father for much of his football education and inspiration. “I don’t want to give him too much credit (…) But he’s obviously there to help me. Obviously, most of my football knowledge comes from him, just growing up. I mean, I came into college with such a knowledge of the game that I wouldn’t have gotten from anybody else before that. (…) Obviously, he’s been huge for me. We talk a lot, every situation, try to talk through it, try to do what he would do, different things like that, because obviously, he played at a high level. I want to be just as good as him,” said Warner.
Kurt Warner praised his son’s performance and development at the college level. “He’s a lot better than I was as an overall player (…) It’s not even close. Just his intelligence, his ability to see the field (…)”There are times I watch him and I’m just like, ‘Gosh dang, I don’t see guys on Sunday seeing and doing some of the things that he does.’” Kurt added that E.J.’s achievements in college surpass his own collegiate career: “I mean, it’s not even close. He was better (…). We were just talking about it, me and him and mom (Brenda), and I guess there was an article where he said, ‘I want to be as good as Dad.’ And somebody said, ‘Well, you always wanted to be better than Dad.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, as a 6-foot quarterback, I don’t know that’s possible.’ (…) But he’s No. 1 in college football going into his senior year in passing yards, passing yards per game, and he has some limitations, yeah, but at this point in my career, after four years in college…I had no stats. Like…I had not ever started a game in college in my four years in college. He’s like…‘I don’t know if I can be better,’ and it’s like…‘You’ve done better.’”
Reflecting on E.J.’s journey across various schools—beginning at Brophy Prep High School with Kurt serving as quarterbacks coach—and then on to Temple University (2022-23) before transferring to Rice University (2024), Kurt noted: “It’s been kind of cool to watch because he’s had a bit of a journey and it’s been challenging (…) It’s fun to see him have some success…trying to get somebody to give him an opportunity at a higher level (…) So…there’s been some frustrations there because of that but he just keeps plugging away and he’s just really really good…and I hope he has a great senior year…and he’s got a chance to chase his dream…a little bit.(…) We’ll see how it all plays out.”
Fans can watch E.J. Warner lead Fresno State Bulldogs when they open their season against the Kansas Jayhawks on Aug. 23 in Lawrence; the match will be nationally televised.
Kurt Warner advanced from undrafted rookie status through two NFL Most Valuable Player awards before being enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
In 31 starts during his time with Temple University and Rice University combined so far as quarterback heading into this season with Fresno State Bulldogs,E.J.Warner holds a completion rate of 60 percent alongside 8 814 yards passed – totalling fifty-eight touchdowns.
