Arizona Cardinals Team History

The Arizona Cardinals built strong teams during the 1920s, 1940s, and 1970s, capturing a total of two NFL titles and four division crowns during those decades. Because the first Super Bowl was not played until 1967, however, the Cardinals have never played in it. The team’s championship lineup of 1947 starred the famed Dream Backfield of quarterback Paul Christman, fullback Pat Harder, and halfbacks Elmer Angsman and Charley Trippi. During the 1970s quarterback Jim Hart commanded one of the league’s most potent offenses.

Arizona Cardinals Franchise Information

Franchise Granted: 1920
First Season: 1920
Morgan Athletic Club (1898)
Racine Normals (1899-1900)
Racine Cardinals (1901-1906, reformed 1913-1919)
Chicago Cardinals (1920-1943)
Card-Pitt (1944)
Chicago Cardinals (1945-1959)
St. Louis Cardinals (1960-1987)
Phoenix Cardinals (1988-1993)
Arizona Cardinals (1994–present)

The Cardinals originally played in Chicago as a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APPA). The team moved to St. Louis in 1960 and then to Phoenix in 1988. Contrary to popular logic, the team was not named after the beautiful bird but instead because the team played in used maroon jerseys the original team (in pre-NFL years) had purchased from the University of Chicago. When an observer scoffed that the jerseys were faded red, team owner Chris Brien countered that they weren't faded red, they were cardinal red.

Arizona Cardinals - Stadium

University of Phoenix Stadium One Cardinals Drive Glendale, Arizona 85305 Capacity: 63,500 Surface: Natural Grass Cost: 455 Million Type: Retractable Roof Tenants:    Arizona Cardials    Arizona State Sun Devils

Arizona Cardinals Chronological History

1898 - The Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago begins playing regular games on the south side of the city.

1901 - The team adopts the name "Cardinals" after team owner Chris O'Brien buys used uniforms that have faded to the color of cardinal red.

1920 - The Chicago Cardinals become charter members of the American Professional Football League.

1925 - The Cardinals capture their first NFL crown.

1929 - On Thanksgiving Day, Ernie Nevers scores all of the teams 40 points for a win over the Chicago Bears.

1945 - World War II conscripted so many players from the Cardinals roster that they merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers to form a team called Card-Pitt. The team lost all 10 of their games.

1946 - The Cardinals have the first of three consecutive winning seasons.

1947 - The Cardinals win the NFL Championship Game.

1960 - The Cardinals move to St. Louis and have their best season in years. Throughout the decade, the Cardinals have five winning seasons but fail to qualify for postseason play.

1974 - The Cardinals qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 26 years.

1975 - The Cardinals win the Division Championship.

1982 - The Cardinals qualify for the postseason but fail to qualify for the Superbowl. While the team has several winning seasons over the next 2 decades, they fail to qualify for postseason play again until 1996.

1988 - After a deal to build a new stadium in St. Louis fails, the team is relocated to Arizona.

1998 - the Arizona Cardinals finally ended the team's 15-year playoff drought and achieved their first postseason victory since 1947.

1999 - Coming off of their playoff run in 1998, the Cardinals were expected to do bigger and better things in 1999, but a tough schedule ranked in the top 5 as well as key injuries returned the team to their losing ways, getting off to a 2-6 start. However, the Cards would make another run winning 4 straight to get back into the playoff chase, but this year it was not meant to be as Arizona lost their last 4 to finish with a disappointing 6-10 record.

2006 - The Cardinals open the season in their new building the University of Phoenix Stadium seats 63,500 fans (expandable to 72,800) opened on August 12, 2006 when the Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-13, in a preseason game. The Cardinals then hosted their first regular season opening day game since moving to the Phoenix area in 1988, defeating the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of the 2005 blowout in Mexico City, 34-27, in front of a sellout crowd of 63,407. In 2008, the stadium will host Super Bowl XLII.