History of Arizona Cardinals in Timeline

The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team located in the Phoenix metropolitan area, competing in the NFL as part of the NFC West division. Their home games are held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

1901: Team Renamed Racine Street Cardinals

In 1901, Chris O'Brien bought used jerseys from the University of Chicago, described the faded maroon clothing as "Cardinal red", and the team became the Racine Street Cardinals.

September 17, 1920: Joined NFL as a charter member

On September 17, 1920, the team joined the NFL as a charter member.

1920: Paddy Driscoll first head coach

From 1920 to 1922, Paddy Driscoll was the first head coach of the Cardinals.

1920: League's inception

In 1920 the historic rivalry between the Cardinals and the Chicago Bears features the only two teams that remain from the league's inception. At that time, the Bears were known as the Decatur Staleys, and the Cardinals were the Racine Cardinals.

1920: National Football League

In 1920, the National Football League was founded and the Arizona Cardinals became a member.

1920: Charter Member of APFA

In 1920, the team became a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which was rechristened the National Football League (NFL) two years later. The team entered the league as the Racine Cardinals.

1922: Paddy Driscoll first head coach

From 1920 to 1922, Paddy Driscoll was the first head coach of the Cardinals.

1922: "The Battle of Chicago"

In 1922, the matchup between the Cardinals and Chicago Bears became known as "The Battle of Chicago" for 38 years, making it the first true rivalry in the league's history.

1922: Renamed Chicago Cardinals

In 1922, the team changed their name to the Chicago Cardinals to avoid confusion with the Horlick-Racine Legion.

1925: NFL Championship Awarded Amid Controversy

In 1925, the Cardinals were awarded the NFL Championship after the Pottsville Maroons were suspended for playing a game in another team's territory.

1925: NFL Championship

In 1925, the Cardinals won their first NFL championship, which was disputed by supporters of the Pottsville Maroons.

1925: Disputed 1925 NFL title

Some Cardinals fans view the championship drought and loss record as the result of a convoluted "curse" that stems from the team's ongoing refusal to cede or share the disputed 1925 NFL title.

1937: Cardinals and Rams first meet

During the 1937 NFL season, the Cardinals and the Rams first met, with the Rams playing in Cleveland and the Cardinals in Chicago.

1944: Temporary merger with Pittsburgh Steelers

In 1944, due to a shortage of players during World War II, the Arizona Cardinals temporarily merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1947: NFL Championship Game Appearance

In 1947, the Cardinals won a championship game.

1947: NFL Championship

In 1947, the Cardinals won their second NFL championship, which was the first to be won in a championship game.

1947: Last Postseason Win

In 1998, the Cardinals got their first postseason win since 1947.

1947: Cardinal Bird Logo

Starting in 1947, the team had a logo of a cardinal bird (pyrrhuloxia) perched on the laces of a football.

1948: NFL Championship Game Appearance

In 1948, the Cardinals returned to the NFL championship game but lost the rematch 7–0 to the Philadelphia Eagles in a snowstorm.

1951: Cardinals and 49ers first meet

In 1951 the Cardinals and 49ers first met, and would meet occasionally until 2000.

1959: Relocation preparation

In 1959, the Arizona Cardinals were preparing for relocation to St. Louis.

1960: Cardinals located in St. Louis

From 1960 to 1987, the Cardinals were located in St. Louis.

1960: Team moved to St. Louis

In 1960, the team moved to St. Louis and was commonly referred to as the "Football Cardinals", the "Gridbirds", or the "Big Red".

1964: Playoff Bowl Win

In 1964, the St. Louis Cardinals won the Playoff Bowl against the Green Bay Packers with a score of 24–17.

1968: Governor's Cup series

From 1968 to 1987, the Cardinals took part in an instate rivalry with the Kansas City Chiefs, with a trophy being awarded to the winner of the matchup.

1970: Cardinals force Cowboys to wear blue jerseys

From 1970 through 1983, and again in many seasons between 1989 and 2002, the Cardinals would wear white when hosting the Dallas Cowboys in order to force the Cowboys to don their "jinxed" blue jerseys.

1970: AFL-NFL Merger

Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Cardinals won their only NFC Championship Game in 2008.

1974: Division Title

In 1974, the Cardinals won a division title, one of five since their 1947-48 NFL championship game appearances.

1974: Playoff Appearance

In 1974, the St. Louis Cardinals advanced to the playoffs.

1975: Division Title

In 1975, the Cardinals won a division title, one of five since their 1947-48 NFL championship game appearances.

1975: Playoff Appearance

In 1975, the St. Louis Cardinals advanced to the playoffs.

1982: Cardinal Head on Jersey Sleeve

From 1982 to 1995, the Cardinal head appeared on the sleeve of the white jersey.

1982: Playoff Appearance

In 1982, the St. Louis Cardinals advanced to the playoffs.

1983: Cardinals force Cowboys to wear blue jerseys

1987: Cardinals located in St. Louis

From 1960 to 1987, the Cardinals were located in St. Louis.

1987: Agreed to move to Phoenix

Not long after the end of the 1987 NFL season, Bidwill agreed to move to Phoenix on a handshake deal with state and local officials, and the team became the Phoenix Cardinals.

1988: Cardinals relocate to Arizona

Following the Cardinals' relocation to Arizona in 1988, the series with the Kansas City Chiefs ended.

1988: Moved to the Valley of the Sun

In 1988, the Cardinals moved to the Valley of the Sun and in the 36 seasons since then, they have six playoff appearances, three division titles, and one NFC championship.

1988: First home game in Arizona with red jerseys

In 1988, the Cardinals' first home game in Arizona saw them play in red jerseys.

1988: Team moved to Tempe, Arizona

In 1988, the team moved to Tempe, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, and played home games at Sun Devil Stadium.

1988: Move to Arizona

The Cardinals moved to Arizona in 1988.

1989: Cardinals force Cowboys to wear blue jerseys

1990: Red Pants Introduced

In 1990, the team began wearing red pants with their white jerseys, emulating the Washington Redskins.

March 17, 1994: Name Changed to Arizona Cardinals

On March 17, 1994, the team changed their name to the Arizona Cardinals.

1994: Throwback Uniform Program

In 1994, the Cardinals participated in the NFL's 75th-anniversary throwback uniform program, wearing jerseys similar to those of the 1920s Chicago Cardinals and stripping logos from their helmets for two games.

1995: Cardinal Head on Jersey Sleeve

From 1982 to 1995, the Cardinal head appeared on the sleeve of the white jersey.

1995: St. Louis Football Ring of Fame

From 1995 to 2015, Dierdorf, Smith, Wehrli and Wilson were members of the St. Louis Football Ring of Fame in The Dome at America's Center when the Rams played there.

1996: Sleeve and Accent Color Changes

In 1996, the state flag of Arizona was moved higher on the sleeve and black was replaced with blue as an accent color.

1996: Vince Tobin Hired as Head Coach

Prior to the 1996 season, the Cardinals hired Vince Tobin as head coach, leading the team to a 7–9 mark.

1997: Regressed to 4-12 Record

In the 1997 season, the team regressed to a 4–12 record.

1998: Playoff Qualification and Win

In the 1998 NFL season, the Cardinals qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 16 years and got their first postseason win since 1947, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 20–7.

1999: Regressed to 6-10 Record

In the 1999 season, the Cardinals regressed to a 6–10 record.

2000: First NFL team to offer all games on Spanish-language radio

In 2000, the Cardinals were the first NFL team to offer all 20 preseason and regular season games on Spanish-language radio.

2000: Franchise Record for Worst Record in a 16-game Season

In 2018, the team dropped to a 3–13 record, tying the franchise record set in 2000 for the worst record in a 16-game season.

2000: Tobin Fired

In the 2000 season, Tobin was fired after a 2–5 start, and Dave McGinnis finished the season with a 1–8 record.

2000: Cardinals and 49ers meet occasionally

Until 2000 the Cardinals and 49ers would meet occasionally after first meeting in 1951.

2001: McGinnis Named Head Coach

Prior to the 2001 season, the Cardinals named McGinnis as their full-time head coach.

2002: Cardinals force Cowboys to wear blue jerseys

2002: Cardinals and 49ers placed in NFC West division

In 2002 both the Cardinals and 49ers were placed in the NFC West division.

2002: Cardinals and Seahawks become divisional rivals

In 2002, the Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks became divisional rivals after both were moved to the NFC West as a result of the league's realignment.

2002: All-Red and All-White Combinations

In 2002, the Cardinals began to wear all-red and all-white combinations, and continued to do so through 2004.

2003: McGinnis Fired

Following the 2003 season, McGinnis was fired by the team.

2004: Dennis Green Hired as Head Coach

Prior to the 2004 season, the Cardinals hired Dennis Green as head coach.

2004: All-Red and All-White Combinations

Through 2004, the Cardinals continued to wear all-red and all-white combinations.

2005: Training camp in Prescott

In 2005, the Cardinals held their annual summer training camp in Prescott.

2005: Major Changes to Logo and Uniforms

In 2005, the team unveiled its first major changes in a century. The cardinal-head logo was updated, black became an accent color again, and trim lines were added to the jerseys and pants.

October 29, 2006: Cardinals wear red pants for the first time

On October 29, 2006, the Cardinals wore red pants for the first time in a game against the Green Bay Packers, hoping to break a six-game losing streak. The Packers won 31–14.

2006: Dennis Green Fired

Following the 2006 season, Dennis Green was fired after coaching the team to three consecutive losing seasons.

2006: Team moved to Glendale

In 2006, the team moved to their current home field in suburban Glendale.

2006: Cardinals move to State Farm Stadium and wear red jerseys at home full-time

In 2006, when the Cardinals moved from Sun Devil Stadium to State Farm Stadium, they opted to wear red jerseys at home full-time due to the controlled temperature inside the stadium.

2006: Cardinals' Ring of Honor started

The Cardinals' Ring of Honor was started in 2006 to mark the opening of State Farm Stadium. It honors former Cardinal greats from all eras of the franchise's history.

2007: Cardinals wear red pants for final 3 home games

In 2007, the Cardinals again wore their red pants for their final 3 home games, pairing them with white jerseys for road games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks and with red jerseys for home games against the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and St. Louis Rams.

2007: Ken Whisenhunt Hired as Head Coach

Prior to the 2007 season, the Cardinals hired Ken Whisenhunt as head coach, leading the Cardinals to a 8-8 record in his first season.

August 29, 2008: Cardinals wear white jerseys at home for the first time at State Farm Stadium

On August 29, 2008, the Cardinals wore white jerseys at home for the first time at State Farm Stadium in a preseason game against the Denver Broncos.

2008: Super Bowl XLIII Appearance

After their historic 2008 season, the Cardinals appeared in Super Bowl XLIII.

2008: NFC Championship Game

During the 2008-09 NFL playoffs, the Cardinals won their only NFC Championship Game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

2008: Red pants not worn

In 2008, the red pants were not worn at all by the Cardinals.

October 11, 2009: Cardinals wear white at home

On October 11, 2009, the Cardinals wore white at home for the first time in a regular-season game at State Farm Stadium against the Houston Texans.

October 2009: NFL recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In October 2009, the NFL recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and players wore pink-accented items, including gloves, wristbands, and shoes. The team thought the pink accents looked better with white uniforms than with red.

2009: 49ers win against Cardinals

Between 2009 and 2013, the 49ers won nine of ten meetings with the Cardinals.

2009: Playoff Appearance

During the 2009-10 playoffs, the Cardinals won a playoff game.

2009: Second Consecutive NFC West Title

In 2009, the Cardinals posted a 10–6 record and clinched their second consecutive NFC West title but were defeated by the New Orleans Saints in the divisional playoffs.

2009: Red pants worn in home games

In 2009, the red pants were used in home games against Seattle, Minnesota, and St. Louis.

2010: Red pants paired with white road jersey

During a 2010 game at Carolina, the red pants were paired with the white road jersey for the first time in three years.

2010: Cardinals debut new alternate black jersey

In the 2010 season, the Cardinals debuted a new, alternate black jersey.

2012: Whisenhunt Fired

After the 2012 season, the Cardinals fired Whisenhunt as head coach.

2012: Training camp in Flagstaff concluded

In 2012, the Cardinals conducted their last annual summer training camp at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff (excluding 2005).

2013: 49ers win against Cardinals

Between 2009 and 2013, the 49ers won nine of ten meetings with the Cardinals.

2013: Training camp moved to State Farm Stadium

In 2013, the Cardinals moved their training camp to State Farm Stadium, previously known as University of Phoenix Stadium.

2013: Bruce Arians Hired as Head Coach

Prior to the 2013 season, the team hired Bruce Arians as head coach.

2014: Cardinals win against 49ers

Between 2014 and 2018, the Cardinals won eight straight meetings with the 49ers.

2014: Playoff Appearance

In 2014, the Cardinals made the playoffs as a wild card and set the best regular-season record in their history in Arizona at 11–5, but were defeated by the Carolina Panthers.

2015: St. Louis Football Ring of Fame

From 1995 to 2015, Dierdorf, Smith, Wehrli and Wilson were members of the St. Louis Football Ring of Fame in The Dome at America's Center when the Rams played there.

2015: Points Scored

In 2015 the Cardinals scored 489 points.

2015: Univisión radio broadcast contract

In 2015, the Cardinals' Spanish-language radio broadcasts were heard on the combo of KQMR/KHOV-FM "Latino Mix" under a contract with Univisión.

2015: Last Postseason Appearance

In 2021, the Cardinals returned to the postseason for the first time since 2015.

2016: 7-8-1 Record

In 2016, the Cardinals recorded a 7-8-1 record.

2017: KPNX broadcasts preseason games

From 2017 to 2023, NBC affiliate KPNX broadcasts the team's preseason games on television called by Pasch and Wolfley, with station anchor Paul Gerke as sideline reporter.

2017: Cardinals debut all-black set for NFL Color Rush program

In 2017, the Cardinals debuted an all-black set for the NFL Color Rush program, featuring red lettering and black pants.

2017: 8-8 Record

In 2017, the Cardinals recorded an 8-8 record and Bruce Arians retired as head coach.

2017: Rams hire Sean McVay

Starting in 2017, The Los Angeles Rams have been 9–1 since hiring head coach Sean McVay. The Cardinals' Rivalry with the Los Angeles Rams has resurged in recent years as both teams found playoff success, despite the Cardinals' best efforts.

2018: Cardinals win against 49ers

Between 2014 and 2018, the Cardinals won eight straight meetings with the 49ers.

2018: White jersey/red pants combination broken out

In 2018, the Cardinals broke out the white jersey/red pants combination against the Kansas City Chiefs.

2018: Steve Wilks Hired and Fired

In 2018, the Cardinals hired Steve Wilks as head coach, but the team dropped to a 3–13 record, and Wilks was fired following the season.

2019: Kliff Kingsbury Hired

In 2019, Kliff Kingsbury was hired as head coach and the Cardinals drafted Kyler Murray. The team improved to 5-10-1.

2020: 8-8 Record

In 2020, the team improved to 8-8.

2020: Cardinals lose to Rams and are eliminated from postseason

In the Week 17 matchup of the 2020 season, the Cardinals lost to the Rams 18–7 and were eliminated from the postseason.

2021: Return to Postseason

In 2021, the Cardinals went 11–6, posting a winning record and returning to the postseason for the first time since 2015, but lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.

April 14, 2022: Mark Ahlemeier Retires

On April 14, 2022, Mark Ahlemeier, the Cardinals equipment manager, retired after working with the organization for 41 seasons.

2022: 4-13 Record, Kingsbury Fired

In 2022, the Cardinals had a 4-13 record and Kingsbury was fired as head coach.

2022: Black uniforms paired with black helmet

Starting in 2022, both black uniforms would be paired with an alternate black helmet with black facemasks.

2022: Black helmet with black facemasks

Starting in 2022, both black uniforms would be paired with an alternate black helmet with black facemasks. The new helmets featured silver flakes while the black helmet had red flakes in them.

2023: Cardinals unveil new uniforms

Before the 2023 season, the Cardinals unveiled new uniforms. The team opted to wear all-red uniforms at home, all-white uniforms on the road, and all-black uniforms as the alternate.

2023: KPNX broadcasts preseason games

From 2017 to 2023, NBC affiliate KPNX broadcasts the team's preseason games on television called by Pasch and Wolfley, with station anchor Paul Gerke as sideline reporter.

2023: Jonathan Gannon First Season

In 2023, under first year head coach Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals once again finished in fourth in the NFC West with a 4–13 record.

2024: Longest Active Championship Drought

As of 2024, the Cardinals have the longest active championship drought in North American sports at 77 seasons.

2024: KTVK and KPHO purchase preseason broadcast rights

In 2024, KTVK and KPHO purchased preseason broadcast rights to the Cardinals. This will be in addition to any Cardinals games already scheduled for KPHO.