Good day. Are you ready to feel a little dated? If you’re of the “I remember the year 2000” age, then we have a story for you.

This Saturday, Rice’s EJ Warner will play quarterback against UTSA’s Owen McCown in the AAC. In fact, they are the sons of former Cardinals quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Josh McCown, who made separate starts in Arizona’s 2005 season.

EJ Warner, a product of Phoenix Brophy College Prep, is in his first season at Rice after two years at Temple, where he topped the 3,000-yard mark each season. He threw for 955 yards, seven touchdowns and six picks in 2024.

Owen McCown, who attended high school in Texas, is in his second season with the Roadrunners after beginning his college career at Colorado. So far he has passed for 1,054 yards, seven touchdowns and two picks and has completed 62% of his passes this year.

The two sons of the former Cardinals quarterbacks appeared to be on a collision course to play against each other in early October 2023.

Warner started for Temple and McCown made his first start of the season a week earlier against Tennessee. But injured UTSA starting quarterback Frank Harris returned from injury and spoiled the meeting between the ex-Cardinals’ sons.

The possibility is Saturday with a kickoff at 4:00 p.m. MST on ESPN+.

How did Kurt Warner and Josh McCown split the 2005 season for the Arizona Cardinals?

Arizona, under coach Dennis Green, launched an attack on Warner, who lost his starting job to the New York Giants the season before then-rookie Eli Manning. Warner won the starting quarterback job over McCown, who had been with the Cardinals since 2002, after being drafted in the third round.

McCown was in a turnaround situation at quarterback the year before, with Shaun King and John Navarre also getting opportunities, but Arizona realized he would provide solid backup insurance despite Warner joining the team.

A minor groin injury to Warner opened the door for McCown to start midway through the season, and McCown coped well before Warner was reinstated. He was injured again, this time with a knee injury, and McCown ended the season.

The Cardinals posted a 5-11 record this season.

Arizona went 2-8 in Warner’s starts, finishing with 2,713 yards and 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions.

McCown’s record as a starter was 3-3 as he threw for 1,836 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 picks.

Their careers obviously went to different places. After another injury-plagued season in 2006, Warner finally found his MVP-like form in Arizona, pushing the Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 and playing one more year after that. He is currently working as a TV analyst.

McCown never became a star, but remained in the NFL until the 2020 season and played one year (2010) for the Hartford Colonials.

He returned to the NFL last year as quarterbacks coach with the Carolina Panthers and now coaches the surprising Minnesota Vikings under quarterback Sam Darnold.

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