Arizona Cardinals

Early Years
The Arizona Cardinals were created in 1898 in Chicago as the Morgan Athletic Club. Becoming the second oldest team once the NFL (National Football League) was constructed in 1920. The club played at Normal Park as the Normals until they were named the Cardinals by Owner Chris O'Brien. Afterward the Cards played at Comiskey Park until 1958 when they moved to Soldier Field the same field as the Chicago Bears.

1925
In 1925, the sixth season of the NFL, the Cardinals found themselves in the playoff run. Although they were beat by the Pottsville Maroons it was later revealed that the Maroons were not eligible to play thereby forfeiting to the Cardinals. Though the Cardinals are the official Champions there is much controversy about this subject whereas the Maroons fans claimed the title rightfully belonged to the Maroons.

Losing streak
In 1947 the Chicago Cardinals won their second and final Championship title. After 11 consecutive losing seasons the Cardinals finally decided to stop competing with the Bears for the Chicago fans and move to St. Louis. After the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the NFC(National Football Conference) Cardinals went to the playoffs only 6 times in their next 43 seasons(fewest in NFL).

Traveling west
In 1988 The Cardinals moved to Phoenix Arizona. They played at the University of Phoenix Sun Devils Stadium until 2006. They currently play at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. It was then that things began looking up for the Cards who had recently signed Super Bowl Champion Kurt Warner and drafted the star wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin a few years before, they also hired Ken Whisenhunt as the new head coach. With this new team the Cards had high hopes for the future. However it was not to be. Arizona suffered two losing seasons before finally going 8-8(their best record in nine years).

2008
In 2008 the Arizona "Dream Team" finally came to life. Kurt Warner finally played like the Super Bowl MVP he was. The Cardinals went 9-7 dominating their division(NFC West), however, no one expected them to get far. The Cardinals hosted the Falcons in the Wildcard round first. Though trailing at the half 17-14 the Cards exploded coming out of the half Their offense scoring 7 and their defense scoring 9. Arizona won 30-26, winning their first home playoff game in 62 years.

The Cards would go on the road in the Divisional round to face the 12-4 Carolina Panthers. Though the Panthers would take an early lead 7-0, the Cards stunned football fans everywhere scoring 33 unanswered points. They held on to win 33-13 to go to their first NFC Championship in Franchise history. In the NFC Championship game Arizona hosted the Philadelphia Eagles, and this time Cardinals drew first blood leading 24-6 at the half. The Eagles would strike back taking a brief 25-24 lead. Arizona would comeback to win 32-25 after making a successful 2-point conversion. After nine losing seasons at last the Cardinals would be in the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLIII
The Cardinals would play the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII which was played in Tampa, Florida. Though being the obvious underdogs they would keep the game close. Trailing at the half the NFC champions battled back in the second half leading by. However the Steelers marched down the field getting a Touchdown with only a few seconds left on the clock. There wasn't anything the Cardinals could do and the clock ran out. That would be the closest the Cardinals ever got to winning a Super Bowl.

2009
In 2009 the NFC Champions were hot once more, blowing away their division and going 10-6( Their best record in 62 years). In an Wildcard home game against the Green Bay Packers the Cardinals were by far the underdogs. However the Cardinals battled hard and the two teams set the record for the most combined points scored in an NFL playoff game. In the last minutes Aaron Rodgers and the Packers tied the game at 45 and it went into overtime. On the Packers first drive the Cards would strip Aaron Rodgers and Karlos Dansby would return the fumble 17 yards for the game winning score. In the Divisional round the Cardinals suffered a nightmare loss to the future Super Bowl Champion Saints. Kurt Warner went without a Touchdown and the defense struggled to contain Drew Brees and the Saints offense. The Saints would win 45-14, afterward Kurt Warner announced his retirement.

Replacing the legend
The Cardinals had a very difficult time replacing the now-retired Kurt Warner as well as Karlos Dansby. After a 4-12 season in 2010 the Cardinals signed Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb and drafted LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson. Despite Kolb's skill he struggled in the beginning of the season and after going 1-6 he was replaced by John Skelton who managed to take the Cards 8-8.

In 2012 the starting quarterback job was up for grabs. In the preseason it was given over to Skelton. In the season opener Skelton was injured and Kolb went on to take the Cardinals 4-0 before getting an injury. Without Kolb the Cards would hit rock bottom going 5-11.

A New Era
Bill Bidwill (Cardinals Owner) finally decided that it was time to start over. Whisenhunt was fired as well as Kevin Kolb. Whisenhunt was replaced by former Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians while Kolb was succeeded by Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer. Despite an early struggle the team found themselves during the season and came out with 10 wins, including a miracle win at Seattle in week 16. Despite all their success, Arizona barely missed out on the playoffs though they had high hopes for the future. In 2014 Cardinals fans had high hopes for the team. However injuries decimated the team on all sides of the ball. The Cardinals made the most with the least playing four different quarterbacks throughout the season. The Cardinals went 11-5 and were forced to land in a Wild Card spot. The Cardinals went on the road to Carolina and could not find any offense with their fourth-string quarterback Ryan Lindley losing 27-16.

During the 2015 season the Cardinals finally recaptured the NFC West finishing at a franchise record of 13-3. Despite this and being the highest scoring team in the NFL that season, Arizona would fall short in the NFC Championship losing once more to Carolina 49-15.

Cardinals Franchise Records
Cardinals Single-Season Records

Points Scored: 489 (2015) Passing Rushing Receiving Returns Kicking Cardinals Career Records
 * Passing Yards: 4,671 (Carson Palmer 2015)
 * Passing Touchdowns: 35 (Carson Palmer 2015)
 * Passes Completed: 401 (Kurt Warner 2008)
 * Passes Attempted: 598 (Kurt Warner 2008)
 * Longest Completion: 98 Yards (Doug Russell 1932, Ogden Compton 1957, Jim Hart 1972)
 * Consecutive Games With a Touchdown Pass: 22 (Kurt Warner 2007–2008)
 * Rushing Yards: 1,605 (Ottis Anderson 1979)
 * Rushing Attempts: 337 (Edgerrin James 2006)
 * Rushing Touchdowns: 14 (John David Crow 1962)
 * Rushing Touchdowns by a Rookie: 10 (Tim Hightower 2008)
 * Longest Rushing Attempt: 83 yards (John David Crow 1958)
 * Rushing Yards Per Game: 100.3 yards (Ottis Anderson 1979)
 * Receptions: 109 (Larry Fitzgerald 2005)Arizona Cardinals The True Tribute
 * Receiving Yards: 1,598 (David Boston 2001)
 * Receiving Touchdowns: 15 (Sonny Randle 1960)
 * Punt Returns in a Season: 44 (Vai Sikahema 1987)
 * Longest Punt Returns: 102 yards (Larod Stephens-Howling 2010)
 * Most punt returns for touchdowns:4 (Patrick Peterson tied in 2011)
 * Most 80+ yard punt returns for touchdowns:4 (Patrick Peterson 2011)
 * Most rookie punt returns for touchdowns:4 (Patrick Peterson 2011)
 * Most rookie punt return yards:699 (Patrick Peterson 2011)
 * longest game-winning punt return touchdown in overtime:99 Yards (Patrick Peterson 2011)
 * Field Goals: 40 (Neil Rackers 2005)
 * Extra Points Made: 53 (Pat Harder 1948)
 * Longest Made Field Goal: 61 Yards (Jay Feely 2012)
 * Passing Yards: 34,639 (Jim Hart 1966–1983)The Cardinals are Charging
 * Passing Touchdowns: 209 (Jim Hart 1966–1983)
 * Rushing Yards: 7,999 (Ottis Anderson 1979–1986)
 * Receptions: 1,018 (Larry Fitzgerald 2004–)
 * Receiving Yards: 13,366 (Larry Fitzgerald 2004-)
 * Pass Interceptions: 52 (Larry Wilson 1960–1972)
 * Field Goals Made: 282 (Jim Bakken 1962–1978)
 * Points: 1,380 (Jim Bakken 1962–1978)
 * Total Touchdowns: 98 (Larry Fitzgerald)
 * Punt Return Average: 13.7 (Charley Trippi 1947–1955)
 * Kickoff Return Average: 28.5 (Ollie Matson 1952, 1954–1958)
 * Punting Average: 44.9 (Jerry Norton 1959–1961)
 * Sacks: 66.5 Freddie (Joe Nunn 1985–1993)

Ownership History

 * Chris O'Brien 1898-1929
 * David Jones 1929-1933
 * Charles Bidwill Sr 1933-1947
 * Violet Bidwill 1947-1962
 * William Bidwill Sr & Charles Bidwill Jr 1962-1972
 * William Bidwill 1972-

Head Coaches

 * Chris O'brien 1898-1919
 * Marshall Smith 1920
 * Paddy Driscoll 1921-1922
 * Arnold Horween 1923-1924
 * Norman Berry 1925-1926
 * Fred Gillies 1927
 * Guy Chamberlin 1928
 * Ernie Nevers 1929-1931
 * LeRoy Andrews 1931
 * Jack Chevingy 1932
 * Paul Schissler 1933-1934
 * Milan Creighton 1935-1938
 * Ernie Nevers 1939
 * Jimmy Conzelman 1940-1942
 * Phil Handler 1943
 * Phil Handler & Walt Keisley 1944
 * Phil Handler 1945
 * Jimmy Conzelman 1946-1948
 * Phil Handler & Buddy Parker 1949Pop Ivy 1961.JPG
 * Earl Lambeau 1950-1951
 * Joe Kuharick 1952
 * Joe Stydahar 1953-1954
 * Ray Richards 1955-1957
 * Pop Ivy 1958-1961
 * Wally Lemn 1962-1965
 * Charley Winner 1966-1970
 * Bob Hollway 1971-1972
 * Don Coryell 1973-1977
 * Bud Wilkinson 1978-1979
 * Larry Wilson 1979
 * Jim Hanifan 1980-1986
 * Gene Hallings 1986-1989275px-B 060621-F-0782R-007 0T3TE crop-1-.jpg
 * Hank Kahlman 1989
 * Joe Bugal 1990-1993
 * Buddy Ryan 1994-1995
 * Vince Toblin 1996-2000
 * Dave McGinnis 2000-2003
 * Dennis Green 2004-2006
 * Ken Whisenhunt 2007-2012
 * Bruce Arians 2013-2017
 * Steve Wilks 2018-present