Kurt Warner rules out return to NFL: 'This thing is over'

You can now officially squash one of the summer's most compelling rumors, as Kurt Warner will not be returning to the NFL for the 2018 season.

Warner spurred speculation about his status for the upcoming season Monday, where he revealed that his wife encouraged him to come out of retirement.

Although Warner hasn't played since the 2009 season, the Hall of Fame quarterback officially put an end to any notion of a comeback.

"You never want to say never," Warner said Tuesday on NFL Network. "Obviously, the further you go into this thing, the older you get, you still have visions of grandeur in your head. But we're getting too far away from this thing. I do feel really good, and I was slinging it pretty good just a couple of months ago when I was training, but I think it's time we say this thing is over."

It's hard to imagine the 46-year-old making a serious impact anyway, but it was fun to speculate about.