History of the Arizona Cardinals facts for kids
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team. Their history goes all the way back to 1898. They started as an amateur club called the Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago.
The Cardinals are the oldest professional football team still playing in the United States. They are also one of only two original teams from the National Football League (NFL) that are still around today. The other team is the Chicago Bears.
Over the years, the team has moved a few times. They left Chicago for St. Louis in 1960. Then, in 1988, they moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they play today.
Contents
- Chicago and St. Louis Years (1920–1987)
- Arizona Years (1988–present)
- Images for kids
Chicago and St. Louis Years (1920–1987)
The Cardinals spent many years playing in Chicago. They were known as the Chicago Cardinals. Later, they moved to St. Louis and became the St. Louis Cardinals. These early years helped shape the team's long history in the NFL.
Arizona Years (1988–present)
Starting in Arizona (1988–1989)
On January 15, 1988, the team's owner, Bill Bidwill, announced the move to Arizona. On March 15, 1988, other NFL team owners agreed to let the Cardinals move. The team was renamed the Phoenix Cardinals.
They planned to play at Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe for a short time. They hoped to build a new stadium soon. However, money problems stopped the new stadium plans. So, the Cardinals played at Sun Devil Stadium for 18 years.
In their last season in St. Louis, the Cardinals almost made the playoffs. In their first Arizona season (1988), they started strong. They were 7–4 and in first place in their division. But they lost their last five games and finished 7–9.
The 1989 season also started well with two road wins. But then, many players got injured. The team finished with a 5–11 record. This was the first of four seasons where they lost 11 games.
The Bugel and Ryan Eras (1990–1995)
Joe Bugel coached the Cardinals from 1990 to 1993. His teams often finished last in their division. This division was very strong, producing the Super Bowl winner in each of those years. Bugel's teams finished 5–11 in 1990, and 4–12 in 1991 and 1992. They improved to 7–9 in 1993. Even with this improvement, Bugel lost his job.
In March 1994, Bill Bidwill changed the team's name to the Arizona Cardinals. Fans had wanted this change for a while. The NFL owners quickly approved the new name.
Buddy Ryan became the new coach in 1994. He also acted as the general manager. He promised the team would be a winner. The 1994 Cardinals had a strong defense. But they struggled with their quarterback play. They finished the season with an 8–8 record, just missing the playoffs.
The 1995 season was tough. The Cardinals finished 4–12. Ryan was fired on December 26, 1995.
The Tobin Era and Playoff Success (1996–2000)
Vince Tobin took over as coach in 1996. The team improved to 7–9. This season saw strong play from defensive end Simeon Rice. Quarterback Boomer Esiason also had a great year.
In 1997, the Cardinals fell to 4–12. But rookie quarterback Jake Plummer made his debut. He had led Arizona State to a great college season before joining the Cardinals. A highlight was beating the Dallas Cowboys in overtime. This ended Dallas's 13-game winning streak against the Cardinals.
A Playoff Season to Remember (1998)
The 1998 season was special for the Cardinals. Many of their games were very close, decided by three points or less. They won seven of these close games. The team was even called the Cardiac Cards because of all the exciting finishes.
They clinched a playoff spot by winning their last three games. They were underdogs against the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Playoff game. The Cardinals had a long history of losing to the Cowboys. They also hadn't won a playoff game since 1947. This was the longest playoff drought in professional sports.
But the Cardinals surprised everyone. They dominated the Cowboys, winning 20–7. This was a huge win for the franchise. It ended 51 years without a playoff victory. However, their playoff run ended in the next round. They lost to the Minnesota Vikings, who had a fantastic 15–1 record.
After their playoff run, expectations were high for 1999. But injuries and a tough schedule led to a 6–10 record.
The McGinnis Era (2000–2003)
Tobin was fired during the 2000 season. Dave McGinnis became the head coach. He coached until 2003, with a record of 17 wins and 40 losses. During his time, Aeneas Williams tied an NFL record. He returned a fumble 104 yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals struggled with attendance during these years. Sun Devil Stadium was often quiet. Many fans who came cheered for the visiting team. This was because many Arizona residents grew up in other states.
In 2002, the NFL changed its divisions. The Cardinals moved from the NFC East to the NFC West. This made more sense geographically.
The Green Era (2004–2006)
In 2004, the Cardinals hired Dennis Green as head coach. He had a strong record with the Minnesota Vikings. But the Cardinals continued to struggle. They went 6–10 in 2004 and 5–11 in 2005. These were their last two seasons at Sun Devil Stadium.
A sad event happened on April 22, 2004. Former safety Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan. He was serving in the United States Army. Tillman had left professional football after the 2001 season to join the military. His jersey number 40 was retired by the Cardinals.
A New Home Stadium (2006)
In 2000, voters approved funding for a new Cardinals stadium. Construction began in April 2003 in Glendale. This new stadium is now called State Farm Stadium. It has a roof that can open and close. It also has a grass field that can slide out of the stadium. This helps protect the grass in the hot desert weather. The stadium also has a modern air conditioning system.
The new stadium opened on August 12, 2006. The Cardinals won their first regular season game there. They beat the San Francisco 49ers 34–27. In February 2008, the stadium hosted Super Bowl XLII.
Despite the new stadium, the team started the 2006 season poorly. They had a 1–8 record. Coach Green was fired after the season.
The Whisenhunt Era (2007–2012)
On January 1, 2007, Ken Whisenhunt became the new head coach. He had been the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals finished the 2007 season with an 8–8 record. This was only their third non-losing season since moving to Arizona.
The Super Bowl Season (2008)
The 2008 season was historic. The Cardinals won their division title for the first time since 1975. This meant they would host a playoff game at home. It was only the second home playoff game in the team's history.
On January 3, 2009, the Cardinals won their first home playoff game in 61 years. They beat the Atlanta Falcons 30–24. Then, they upset the Carolina Panthers 33–13. This led them to host their first-ever NFC Championship Game. On January 18, 2009, the Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 32–25. This sent them to the Super Bowl for the very first time! They played in Super Bowl XLIII but lost a close game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27–23.
After the Super Bowl (2009–2012)
In 2009, fans had high hopes after the Super Bowl run. The Cardinals drafted Chris "Beanie" Wells to improve their running game. They started the season with some ups and downs. But they won six of their next seven games.
On December 20, 2009, the Cardinals won their second straight NFC West division title. They finished the season 10–6. This was the team's best record since moving to Arizona. They played the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card game. It was a thrilling game, with the Cardinals winning 51–45 in overtime. This was the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history.
However, their defense struggled in the next game. They lost to the New Orleans Saints 45–14. After this game, quarterback Kurt Warner announced his retirement. This was a surprise to the team.
In 2011, the Cardinals traded for quarterback Kevin Kolb. They started the season 1–6. But they finished strong, winning 7 of their last 9 games. They ended the season 8–8. They set an NFL record with four overtime wins in one season. Three players went to the 2012 Pro Bowl: Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Peterson, and Adrian Wilson. Patrick Peterson tied an NFL record with 4 punt returns for touchdowns.
In 2012, John Skelton won the starting quarterback job. But he got injured in the first game. Kolb came in and led a game-winning drive. Kolb then led a surprising upset over the New England Patriots. However, Kolb also got injured later in the season. The Cardinals started 4–0 but then lost nine games in a row. This included a tough 58–0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Arians Era (2013–2017)
On January 17, 2013, Bruce Arians became the new head coach. He had been a successful offensive coordinator. In 2013, the Cardinals won 10 games. But they still missed the playoffs.
The next year, 2014, the Cardinals started very well. They won nine of their first ten games. They finished with an 11–5 record. This was their most wins in a regular season since 1975. They made the playoffs as a wild card team. However, injuries to quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton hurt their chances. They lost to the Carolina Panthers 27–16 in the playoffs.
In 2015, Arizona set another record for wins in Arizona. They finished with 13 wins. They also won their division title for the first time since 2009. They earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Cardinals defeated the Green Bay Packers 26–20 in overtime. This was quarterback Carson Palmer's first playoff victory. They advanced to their second NFC Championship game. But they lost to the Carolina Panthers 49–15.
The 2016 season was disappointing. The team was expected to be a Super Bowl contender. But they started poorly. They had a rare tie game against the Seattle Seahawks, 6–6. They finished the year at 7–8–1 and missed the playoffs.
2017 was another difficult year. Key players like David Johnson and Carson Palmer suffered injuries. The Cardinals finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs again. After this season, Bruce Arians retired as head coach. Carson Palmer also retired the next day.
The Wilks Era (2018)
In January 2018, Steve Wilks became the new head coach. He was the second African-American coach for the Cardinals. The team started the 2018 season with quarterback Sam Bradford. But they struggled greatly on offense. They failed to score any offensive points in their first two games.
In Week 3, rookie quarterback Josh Rosen took over as starter. Bradford was later released. The team continued to struggle. They finished the season with a very poor 3–13 record. This tied the franchise's worst record. It was also the worst record in the NFL that year. After only one season, Steve Wilks was fired as head coach.
The Kingsbury Era (2019–2022)
A New Start (2019)
On January 8, 2019, Kliff Kingsbury became the Cardinals' new coach. They also hired Vance Joseph as defensive coordinator. In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Cardinals drafted quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall pick. They then traded Josh Rosen to the Miami Dolphins.
The 2019 season started with a tie game against the Detroit Lions. The Cardinals then lost three games. But they got their first win against the Cincinnati Bengals. They then won two more close games. This put their record at 3–3–1. However, they then went on a long losing streak. They finished the season 5–10–1.
Building the Team (2020–2021)
Before the 2020 season, the Cardinals traded for star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. They also drafted linebacker Isiah Simmons. The team was expected to have a great season. Kyler Murray was even mentioned as a possible MVP candidate. The Cardinals won six of their first nine games. This included a famous play called the 'Hail Murray.' Kyler Murray threw a long pass to DeAndre Hopkins to win the game against the Buffalo Bills. However, the team struggled late in the season. They finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs.
In 2021, the Cardinals added more veteran players. These included defensive end J. J. Watt, wide receiver A. J. Green, and running back James Conner. They started the season incredibly well. They won their first 7 games. They were the only undefeated team in the NFL for a while. Kyler Murray was an early favorite for MVP.
However, JJ Watt suffered a serious injury. Kyler Murray also injured his ankle. The team's performance dropped. They finished 11–6 and made the playoffs as a Wildcard team. They faced their division rival, the Los Angeles Rams, in the playoffs. The Cardinals lost 34–11 and were eliminated. The Rams went on to win the Super Bowl that year.
End of an Era (2022)
In 2022, the Cardinals did not improve. They finished with a 4–13 record. This led to the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The general manager, Steve Keim, also resigned.
Images for kids
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Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and some other Cardinals in 2009
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Big Red, the Cardinals team mascot, at the team's headquarters in 2009
