The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The Cardinals play their home games at State Farm Stadium, located in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix.
In 1901, the team acquired used jerseys from the University of Chicago, described as "Cardinal red," leading to their name change to the Racine Street Cardinals.
The Arizona Cardinals, then known as the Racine Normals, concluded their first period as an independent team in 1906.
The Arizona Cardinals, then known as the Racine Cardinals, began another period of operating as an independent team in 1913.
Marking the end of their second stint as an independent entity in 1919, the Arizona Cardinals, then known as the Racine Cardinals, prepared to join a league.
On September 17, 1920, the Arizona Cardinals, then the Racine Cardinals, officially became a charter member of the National Football League (NFL).
A pivotal year for the Arizona Cardinals, then the Racine Cardinals, as they became a charter member of the National Football League (NFL) in 1920.
In 1920, Paddy Driscoll became the Arizona Cardinals' first head coach, compiling a record of 17–8–4 until 1922.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the Racine Cardinals, became a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1920, a precursor to the NFL.
The historic rivalry between the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears began in 1920, when the Bears were known as the Decatur Staleys and the Cardinals as the Racine Cardinals.
In 1922, the rivalry between the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears became known as 'The Battle of Chicago,' marking the first true rivalry in the NFL's history.
Paddy Driscoll ended his tenure as the Arizona Cardinals' first head coach in 1922, leaving behind a record of 17–8–4.
To avoid confusion with a similarly named team, the Racine Cardinals changed their name to the Chicago Cardinals in 1922.
The Arizona Cardinals secured their first NFL Championship in 1925 while the team was based in Chicago.
The Arizona Cardinals' 1925 NFL Championship win was marked by controversy, as it stemmed from the suspension of the Pottsville Maroons, who had beaten the Cardinals earlier in the season and finished with the same record after scheduling an extra game.
The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams first met during the 1937 NFL season, initiating the oldest and most intense divisional rivalry for the Cardinals.
Due to player shortages during World War II, the Arizona Cardinals, then the Chicago Cardinals, entered a temporary merger with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1944.
In 1947, the team introduced a new logo featuring a cardinal bird, specifically a pyrrhuloxia, perched on the laces of a football. This marked the beginning of the team's association with the cardinal bird imagery.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the Chicago Cardinals, clinched their second NFL Championship title in 1947.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the Chicago Cardinals, established the foundation for their undefeated home playoff record in 1947, a testament to their home-field advantage during the postseason.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the Chicago Cardinals, last won a playoff game in 1947.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the Chicago Cardinals, triumphed in the 1947 NFL Championship game, a poignant victory that came eight months after the death of their owner, Charles Bidwill.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the Chicago Cardinals, aimed to defend their title but were defeated in the 1948 NFL Championship rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cleveland Guardians, formerly the Indians, last won the World Series in 1948, marking a significant championship drought in Major League Baseball.
The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers first met in 1951, setting the stage for a rivalry that would intensify over the years.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the Chicago Cardinals, prepared for a significant relocation to St. Louis in 1959.
In 1960, while located in St. Louis, the Arizona Cardinals began an instate rivalry with the Kansas City Chiefs, featuring a trophy awarded to the winner of the matchup.
The Arizona Cardinals relocated to St. Louis in 1960, adopting the name St. Louis Cardinals.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the St. Louis Cardinals, emerged victorious in the 1964 Playoff Bowl, a now-defunct game for third place, defeating the Green Bay Packers.
The Governor's Cup series between the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs, which ran from 1968 to 1987, saw the Chiefs post a 16–7–2 record against the Cardinals.
Beginning in 1970, the Cardinals implemented a unique tradition of wearing their white jerseys whenever they hosted the Dallas Cowboys. This strategic move was aimed at forcing the Cowboys to wear their "jinxed" blue jerseys, which some believed gave the Cardinals a psychological advantage.
The AFL-NFL merger in 1970 brought together the two major professional American football leagues, creating a unified NFL.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the St. Louis Cardinals, made their first playoff appearance during their time in St. Louis in 1974.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the St. Louis Cardinals, secured their first division title in 1974 since their 1947-48 NFL championship game appearances, breaking a long period without a divisional crown.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the St. Louis Cardinals, won their second consecutive division title in 1975, a testament to their strong performance during this period.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the St. Louis Cardinals, reached the playoffs for the second consecutive year in 1975.
From 1982, the Cardinals incorporated the Cardinal head logo on the sleeve of their white jerseys, adding a distinctive element to their uniform.
The Arizona Cardinals, then the St. Louis Cardinals, earned a playoff berth in 1982 during their tenure in St. Louis.
The Cardinals' tradition of wearing white jerseys specifically for games against the Dallas Cowboys, which had been in place since 1970, came to an end in 1983.
Shortly after the conclusion of the 1987 NFL season, the Arizona Cardinals agreed to relocate to Phoenix.
The instate rivalry between the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs ended in 1987, a year before the Cardinals relocated to Arizona.
In 1988, the Arizona Cardinals relocated from St. Louis to Arizona, ending their instate rivalry with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Arizona Cardinals moved to Tempe, Arizona, in 1988, marking their transition to the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The Arizona Cardinals' relocation to the Valley of the Sun in 1988 marked a significant geographic shift for the franchise.
The Cardinals made a significant move in 1988, relocating to Arizona, which brought about changes in the team's identity and branding.
The Cardinals marked their arrival in Arizona in 1988 by wearing their red jerseys for their inaugural home game in the state.
After a brief hiatus, the Arizona Cardinals revived the tradition of wearing white jerseys at home against the Dallas Cowboys starting in 1989.
In 1990, the Arizona Cardinals introduced red pants to their uniform, pairing them with their white jerseys. This decision was influenced by their new coach, Joe Bugel, who drew inspiration from his former employer, the Washington Redskins, known for wearing burgundy pants with their white jerseys.
The team officially changed their name to the Arizona Cardinals on March 17, 1994.
As part of the NFL's 75th-anniversary celebration in 1994, the Cardinals participated in the throwback uniform program. They donned jerseys inspired by the 1920s Chicago Cardinals, featuring an interlocking "CC" logo and three stripes on each sleeve. In a unique twist, the uniform numbers were moved to the right chest. To further enhance the retro look, the team wore khaki pants, symbolizing the color and material prevalent during that era. Notably, the Cardinals also removed the logos from their helmets for two games: an away game against the Cleveland Browns and a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After being a prominent feature for over a decade, the Cardinal head logo was removed from the sleeve of the Cardinals' white jerseys in 1995.
From 1995 to 2015, Dierdorf, Smith, Wehrli, and Wilson were members of the St. Louis Football Ring of Fame at The Dome at America's Center.
In 1996, the Cardinals made notable adjustments to their uniforms. The state flag of Arizona was repositioned higher on the sleeve, a consequence of the Cardinal head logo's removal and the shortening of sleeves in football jerseys. Furthermore, black was replaced with blue as an accent color, aligning with the predominant color of the state flag.
Vince Tobin joined the Arizona Cardinals as head coach in 1996, leading them to a 7-9 record in his inaugural season.
The Arizona Cardinals experienced a setback in 1997, finishing with a 4-12 record under coach Vince Tobin.
The 1998 season marked a turning point for the Arizona Cardinals, as they qualified for the playoffs, ending a 16-year drought, and secured their first postseason victory since 1947 by defeating the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round.
The Arizona Cardinals regressed to a 6-10 record in the 1999 NFL season, following their playoff appearance the previous year.
In 2000, the Arizona Cardinals became the first NFL team to offer all 20 preseason and regular season games on Spanish-language radio.
The Arizona Cardinals dismissed head coach Vince Tobin after a disappointing 2-5 start in 2000, with Dave McGinnis taking over as the interim coach for the remainder of the season.
The Cardinals experienced one of their lowest points in franchise history in 2000 when they finished the season with a dismal 3-13 record. This marked the worst record in a 16-game season for the team, a record they would later tie in 2018.
Until 2000, the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers met occasionally, but their rivalry had yet to fully develop.
Dave McGinnis was appointed as the Arizona Cardinals' head coach in 2001, following his stint as the interim coach the previous season.
The Cardinals' long-standing tradition of wearing their white jerseys specifically for home games against the Dallas Cowboys, which had seen a resurgence between 1989 and 2002, was permanently retired. Notably, this practice was not reinstated even after the team's move to State Farm Stadium.
In 2002, the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks became divisional rivals following the NFL's realignment, marking the beginning of one of the NFL's more bitter rivalries.
In 2002, both the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers were placed in the NFC West division, turning their occasional matchups into a full-fledged rivalry.
The Cardinals introduced all-red and all-white uniform combinations in 2002, a departure from their previous designs, and continued this trend through 2004, before their next major uniform overhaul.
After three seasons at the helm, the Arizona Cardinals fired head coach Dave McGinnis following the 2003 season.
Dennis Green became the Arizona Cardinals' new head coach in 2004.
The Cardinals' use of all-red and all-white uniform combinations, a trend that began in 2002, came to an end in 2004.
The Arizona Cardinals held their training camp in Prescott, Arizona, in 2005, deviating from their usual location in Flagstaff.
The Arizona Cardinals underwent a significant transformation in 2005 with a complete overhaul of their uniforms, marking the first major change to their look in a century. The focal point of this makeover was the update to the cardinal-head logo, which was redesigned to appear more aggressive and intimidating, a departure from the previous iteration that some fans jokingly referred to as a "parakeet". Black made a comeback as an accent color after an eight-year hiatus, adding a bold touch to the new design. To further enhance the visual appeal, trim lines were incorporated into the outer shoulders, sleeves, and sides of both the jerseys and pants. Additionally, the team introduced the option of pairing either red or white pants with both the red and white jerseys, providing greater versatility in their uniform combinations.
In an attempt to break a six-game losing streak, the Arizona Cardinals debuted their red pants for the first time on October 29, 2006, during an away game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Unfortunately, the change in attire didn't change their fortune as the Packers emerged victorious with a score of 31-14. This loss sent the Cardinals into their bye week with a disappointing 1-7 record.
Following three consecutive losing seasons, the Arizona Cardinals released head coach Dennis Green after the 2006 season.
In 2006, the Arizona Cardinals started their Ring of Honor at State Farm Stadium to honor former greats from the franchise's history.
The Arizona Cardinals moved to their current home field in Glendale, Arizona, in 2006.
The Cardinals' long-standing tradition of wearing white jerseys at home during the first half of the season at Sun Devil Stadium came to an end in 2006. This shift coincided with their move to State Farm Stadium, which offered the luxury of a retractable roof.
The Arizona Cardinals continued experimenting with their red pants throughout the 2007 season. They paired the red pants with their white jerseys for away games against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Seattle Seahawks. At home, they embraced the all-red look, donning red jerseys and red pants for games against the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and St. Louis Rams.
In 2007, Ken Whisenhunt was hired as the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals. In his first season, he led the team to an 8-8 record.
In a preseason matchup against the Denver Broncos on August 29, 2008, the Arizona Cardinals made the unusual decision to wear their white jerseys at home in their new stadium, State Farm Stadium. This marked the first time the team had donned their white jerseys for a home game at this venue.
The Cardinals opted not to wear their red pants at all during the 2008 season, putting a temporary halt to their experimentation with the bold uniform choice.
Following their Super Bowl appearance, the Cardinals continued their success in 2008, achieving their first-ever 10-win season since relocating to Arizona.
The Arizona Cardinals achieved a significant milestone in 2008 by winning their only NFC Championship Game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, marking a highlight in their playoff history.
The 2008 season marked a historic run for the Arizona Cardinals. Led by quarterback Kurt Warner, they won the Wild Card Round against the Atlanta Falcons, the Divisional Round against the Carolina Panthers, and the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. This led them to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. They faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII but fell short, losing 27-23 in a tightly contested game.
For the first time in a regular-season game at State Farm Stadium, the Arizona Cardinals broke with tradition and wore their white jerseys at home against the Houston Texans on October 11, 2009. This decision was primarily influenced by the NFL's recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
During October 2009, the NFL recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month, encouraging teams and players to incorporate pink accents into their uniforms. The Cardinals, believing that the pink accents complemented their white uniforms better than their red ones, chose to wear white for their home game in support of the cause.
The Cardinals reintroduced their red pants for select home games during the 2009 season. They wore this combination for matchups against the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and St. Louis Rams.
Between 2009 and 2013, the San Francisco 49ers dominated the rivalry with the Arizona Cardinals, winning nine out of ten meetings.
The Arizona Cardinals reached Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, a testament to their successful season, though they ultimately lost a hard-fought game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Cardinals, in 2009, clinched their second consecutive NFC West title, showcasing their dominance in the division. However, their playoff run was cut short with a 45-14 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints, in the divisional playoffs.
After a three-year hiatus, the Cardinals brought back the white jersey and red pants combination for an away game against the Carolina Panthers in 2010. However, this particular combination wouldn't be seen again until 2018.
In 2010, the Arizona Cardinals debuted a new alternate black jersey, marking a significant change in their uniforms.
After the 2012 season, the Cardinals decided to part ways with head coach Ken Whisenhunt, marking the end of his tenure with the team.
The Arizona Cardinals concluded their annual summer training camp at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 2012.
The Arizona Cardinals relocated their training camp to State Farm Stadium, then known as University of Phoenix Stadium, in 2013.
In 2013, the period of dominance by the San Francisco 49ers over the Arizona Cardinals came to an end, leading to a more balanced rivalry.
Bruce Arians was hired as the new head coach for the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. In his first season, he guided the team to a 10-6 record but they narrowly missed the playoffs.
From 2014 to 2018, the Arizona Cardinals won eight consecutive meetings against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Cardinals achieved a significant milestone in 2014 by setting a new franchise record for the best regular-season record in Arizona at 11-5. This earned them a wild-card playoff berth. However, they faced a tough Carolina Panthers team, who were the NFC South champions despite a 7-8-1 record, and were defeated in the Wild Card round.
In 2015, the Arizona Cardinals set a record for points scored in a single season, totaling 489 points.
In 2015, the Arizona Cardinals signed a contract with Univisión for Spanish-language radio broadcasts, expanding their reach within the Hispanic community.
In 2015, the St. Louis Football Ring of Fame, which included Dierdorf, Smith, Wehrli, and Wilson, was discontinued following the Rams' relocation.
The Arizona Cardinals emerged victorious in the NFC West division in 2015, marking their most recent divisional championship.
The Cardinals' last playoff appearance before their return in 2021 came in 2015.
The Cardinals experienced a dip in their performance in 2016, finishing the season with a 7-8-1 record.
After the 2017 season, head coach Bruce Arians announced his retirement from coaching, bringing an end to his successful tenure with the Arizona Cardinals.
From 2017 to 2023, NBC affiliate KPNX broadcasted the Arizona Cardinals' preseason games, including the Hall of Fame Game, with regional syndication.
In 2017, the Arizona Cardinals introduced an all-black set for the NFL Color Rush program, featuring red lettering and black pants.
Since hiring head coach Sean McVay in 2017, the Rams have dominated the rivalry with the Arizona Cardinals, boasting a 9–1 record against them.
The Cardinals revived the white jersey and red pants combination once again in 2018, this time for a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This marked the return of a unique uniform combination that had been absent for several seasons.
The Cardinals hired Steve Wilks as head coach for the 2018 season. Unfortunately, the team struggled significantly under his leadership, finishing with a dismal 3-13 record. This tied their franchise record for the worst record in a 16-game season, which was previously set in 2000. As a result of the team's poor performance, Wilks was fired after just one season.
In 2018, the Arizona Cardinals' winning streak against the San Francisco 49ers, which began in 2014, came to an end.
The Cardinals ushered in a new era in 2019 with the hiring of Kliff Kingsbury as head coach and the drafting of quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall pick. Despite the changes, the team finished with a 5-10-1 record, showing some improvement but still falling short of a winning season.
In the 2020 season, the Arizona Cardinals played the Rams in Week 17 for a playoff berth but lost 18–7, resulting in their elimination from the postseason.
The Cardinals showed further improvement in 2020 under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, finishing the season with an 8-8 record.
In 2021, the Arizona Cardinals achieved a winning record of 11-6, marking their return to the postseason for the first time since 2015. However, their playoff run was short-lived as they were defeated by the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.
On April 14, 2022, Mark Ahlemeier, the Arizona Cardinals' equipment manager, retired after 41 seasons with the organization.
The Cardinals experienced a setback in 2022, finishing with a disappointing 4-13 record, which placed them last in the NFC West. Consequently, head coach Kliff Kingsbury was relieved of his duties.
Starting in 2022, both of the Arizona Cardinals' black uniforms were paired with an alternate black helmet featuring black facemasks.
In 2022, the Arizona Cardinals introduced new helmets with silver flakes for the white helmets and red flakes for the black helmets.
Before the 2023 season, the Arizona Cardinals unveiled new uniforms, choosing all-red for home games, all-white for away games, and all-black as the alternate. The new design featured various changes including the state name on the red uniform and different trims on the numbers.
By 2023, the Arizona Cardinals had unfortunately accumulated the most losses by a franchise in NFL history, a testament to both their longevity and periods of struggle.
In 2023, the broadcast partnership between the Arizona Cardinals and NBC affiliate KPNX, which began in 2017, came to an end.
Jonathan Gannon took over as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. However, the team continued to struggle, mirroring their previous season's record with a 4-13 finish, placing them last in the NFC West once again.
The Arizona Cardinals' roster was updated on September 11, 2024.
As of 2024, the Arizona Cardinals held the unfortunate distinction of having the longest active championship drought in North American sports.
In 2024, KTVK and KPHO purchased the preseason broadcast rights to the Arizona Cardinals' games, adding to KPHO's existing schedule of Cardinals games.