Arizona Cardinals: A History of the NFL’s Oldest Continuous Franchise

The Arizona Cardinals are one of the most historic franchises in professional football. Their story began in Chicago more than a century ago, continued through St. Louis, moved to Phoenix, and eventually reached the present-day home in Glendale, Arizona.

The Cardinals are the oldest continuously operating professional football franchise. The organization traces its roots to the Morgan Athletic Club, founded in Chicago in 1898. The team became the Chicago Cardinals and joined the NFL as a charter member in 1920.
Over the decades, the franchise has been known as the Chicago Cardinals, Card-Pitt, St. Louis Cardinals, Phoenix Cardinals and Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals have won two NFL championships, in 1925 and 1947, and their greatest modern achievement came when they won the NFC Championship in 2008 and advanced to Super Bowl XLIII.

The Beginning: From Morgan Athletic Club to the Cardinals

The franchise began in Chicago in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club. Chris O’Brien became one of the central figures in establishing the organization.  The team eventually became known as the Cardinals because of the color of its uniforms. Rather than abandoning an old set of uniforms, O’Brien reportedly described their color as “Cardinal red,” and the nickname remained.

In 1920, the Cardinals became one of the original members of the American Professional Football Association, which soon became the National Football League.  That makes the Cardinals one of the two surviving franchises from the original 1920 NFL, along with the Chicago Bears.

Cardinals Franchise Names Through the Years

1898–1920 — Morgan Athletic Club and early Chicago Cardinals                                   

1920–1943 — Chicago Cardinals

1944 — Card-Pitt
During World War II, the Cardinals temporarily combined with the Pittsburgh Steelers because of the shortage of available players.

1945–1959 — Chicago Cardinals

1960–1987 — St. Louis Cardinals

1988–1993 — Phoenix Cardinals

1994–present — Arizona Cardinals

The franchise’s geographic journey is one of the most unusual in NFL history.
All Cardinals Owners  The Cardinals have had a relatively small number of ownership groups compared with their age, largely because of the remarkable length of the Bidwill family’s ownership.

All Cardinals Owners 

Chris O’Brien
1898–1929
Chris O’Brien was the principal early owner and one of the foundational figures of the franchise. He sold the Chicago Cardinals to David Jones in 1929.

David Jones
1929–1932
Jones owned the Cardinals for approximately three years before selling the franchise to Charles W. Bidwill.

Charles W. Bidwill Sr.
1932–1947
Charles Bidwill purchased the Cardinals in 1932 and began what became the NFL’s longest-running family ownership tradition.  Bidwill died in 1947, before seeing the Cardinals win the NFL championship that season.  He was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Violet Bidwill Wolfner
1947–1962
Following Charles Bidwill’s death, his widow, Violet Bidwill, became owner.
Violet was a remarkable figure in NFL history. She was the Violet Bidwill Wolfner history and guided the Cardinals to the 1947 NFL championship during her first season as owner.
She also oversaw the franchise during its 1948 division championship season and eventually made the decision to move the Cardinals from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960.

Charles “Stormy” Bidwill Jr. and William “Bill” Bidwill
1962–1972
After Violet Bidwill died in 1962, her sons Charles Jr. and Bill inherited the Cardinals.
The brothers operated the franchise together for approximately a decade.  William V. “Bill” Bidwill.

1972–2019
Bill Bidwill purchased his brother’s share in 1972 and became the Cardinals’ sole owner.
His ownership included the team’s final years in St. Louis, the relocation to Arizona in 1988, the Phoenix Cardinals era, the transition to the Arizona Cardinals name in 1994, and the team’s first Super Bowl appearance.  Under Bill Bidwill, the Cardinals moved from Sun Devil Stadium to their present-day home in 2006.

Michael Bidwill
2019–present
Michael Bidwill became owner following the death of his father, Bill Bidwill, in 2019.
Michael had previously served as Cardinals president and had been heavily involved in the development of the team’s modern business and stadium operations.  The Bidwill family therefore has maintained ownership of the Cardinals for more than nine decades.

Every Stadium Called Home by the Cardinals

Few NFL franchises have had a more complicated history of home stadiums.

Normal Park — Chicago
1920–1921 and 1926–1928
Normal Park was one of the Cardinals’ earliest NFL home fields.  The Cardinals returned there after playing elsewhere during part of the 1920s.

Comiskey Park — Chicago
1922–1925, 1929–1930 and 1939–1958
Comiskey Park, primarily associated with Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox, served as a major Cardinals home for many years.  It was also the site of the Cardinals’ dramatic 1947 NFL Championship victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wrigley Field — Chicago
1931–1938
The Cardinals played their home games at Wrigley Field, the famous home of baseball’s Chicago Cubs.
For several seasons, Wrigley Field therefore served as a home for two NFL teams as well as the Cubs.

Soldier Field — Chicago
1959
The Cardinals played four home games at Soldier Field during their final season in Chicago.

Metropolitan Stadium — Bloomington, Minnesota
1959
The Cardinals also played two home games at Metropolitan Stadium during their final season before moving to St. Louis.

Forbes Field — Pittsburgh
1944
During the temporary Card-Pitt merger with the Steelers, several games were played at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field.

Busch Stadium — St. Louis
1960–1965
When the Cardinals moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960, they played at the baseball Cardinals’ Busch Stadium, then known as Sportsman’s Park.

Busch Memorial Stadium — St. Louis
1966–1987
The Cardinals moved into the new Busch Memorial Stadium in downtown St. Louis in 1966.
The St. Louis Cardinals enjoyed some of their strongest regular-season success during the 1970s, winning NFC Eastern Division championships in 1974 and 1975.

Sun Devil Stadium — Tempe, Arizona
1988–2005
The franchise moved from St. Louis to Arizona in 1988 and initially played at Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium.

The team was known as the Phoenix Cardinals from 1988 through 1993.
In 1994, the name officially became the Arizona Cardinals.

State Farm Stadium — Glendale, Arizona
2006–present
The Cardinals opened their new stadium in 2006.   The facility was originally known as University of Phoenix Stadium and later became State Farm Stadium.  It became the Cardinals’ first permanent modern football stadium designed specifically around the franchise’s needs.  The stadium also became the site of the Cardinals’ first Super Bowl appearance in the 2008 season.

Cardinals Pro Football Hall of Famers — As Cardinals

The Cardinals franchise has had numerous Hall of Famers wear its uniform. However, not every Hall of Famer who played for the Cardinals earned his Hall credentials primarily as a Cardinal.
Using a strict Cardinals-centered standard, the following are among the most significant Hall of Fame figures whose careers and accomplishments are strongly associated with the franchise:

Ernie Nevers
Fullback — Chicago Cardinals
Nevers was one of the dominant players of early professional football.  His most famous achievement came on November 28, 1929, when he scored all 40 points in a Cardinals victory over the Chicago Bears — six touchdowns and four extra points.  The 40-point individual performance remains one of the most remarkable single-game records in NFL history.  Nevers entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

John “Paddy” Driscoll
Quarterback — Chicago Cardinals
Driscoll was one of professional football’s earliest stars.  He was a versatile player who could run, pass, kick and play defense.  He played for the Cardinals from 1920 through 1925 and was one of the key players in the franchise’s early history.

Jimmy Conzelman
Coach — Chicago Cardinals
Conzelman coached the Cardinals during two different periods.
His greatest Cardinals achievement came in 1947 when he led the team to its second NFL championship.  The 1947 Cardinals became known for their spectacular “Dream Backfield.”  Conzelman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964.

Charles W. Bidwill Sr.
Owner — Chicago Cardinals
Bidwill became the Cardinals’ owner in 1932.  He kept the franchise operating through the difficult economic years of the Great Depression and World War II.  He helped assemble the team that eventually won the 1947 NFL championship.  Bidwill entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

Charley Trippi
Halfback/Quarterback — Chicago Cardinals
Trippi was one of the most versatile players in early NFL history.   He played halfback, quarterback and defense and also contributed as a return specialist.  He was the Cardinals’ first-round selection in the 1945 NFL Draft and finally joined the team in 1947.
In his rookie season, Trippi helped the Cardinals win the NFL championship and produced one of the greatest championship-game performances in franchise history.  He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

Ollie Matson
Halfback — Chicago Cardinals
Matson joined the Cardinals in 1952 after starring at the University of San Francisco and winning two Olympic medals in track.  He shared NFL Rookie of the Year honors in 1952.
Matson became one of the NFL’s most dynamic all-purpose players and earned multiple All-NFL selections while with Chicago.  He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.

Dan Dierdorf
Offensive Tackle — St. Louis Cardinals
Dierdorf was one of the dominant offensive linemen of the 1970s.  He spent his entire NFL career with the Cardinals, playing from 1971 through 1983.  His excellence helped anchor the St. Louis Cardinals teams of the Don Coryell era.  Dierdorf was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Jackie Smith
Tight End — St. Louis Cardinals
Jackie Smith spent the overwhelming majority of his career with the Cardinals.  He became one of the NFL’s greatest receiving tight ends and was a major offensive weapon during the St. Louis era.  Smith entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Roger Wehrli
Cornerback — St. Louis Cardinals
Wehrli was a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ defense for 14 seasons.  He played his entire NFL career with the Cardinals and was selected to multiple Pro Bowls.  Wehrli entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Larry Wilson
Safety — St. Louis Cardinals
Larry Wilson is one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history.  He played his entire career with the Cardinals from 1960 through 1972.  Wilson was known for his intelligence, toughness and exceptional ball skills.  His No. 8 has been retired by the Cardinals.
He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.

Larry Fitzgerald
Wide Receiver — Arizona Cardinals
Fitzgerald spent his entire 17-year NFL career with the Cardinals.  He became one of the greatest receivers in NFL history and the defining player of the modern Arizona Cardinals.
Fitzgerald was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.  His Cardinals accomplishments include 1,432 receptions and a remarkable postseason performance during the 2008 playoff run.  In 2026, the Cardinals announced plans to retire his No. 11.
Hall of Fame Names Not Counted as “Earned as a Cardinal”

This distinction is important.
The Cardinals have also had Hall of Famers such as Kurt Warner, Aeneas Williams, Emmitt Smith, Alan Faneca, Dwight Freeney, Don Maynard, Jim Thorpe and others wear the uniform.  They are part of the franchise’s historical story, but their Hall of Fame careers were not primarily earned as Cardinals.  

For example, Kurt Warner’s Hall of Fame résumé includes his championship and MVP seasons with the St. Louis Rams, while Emmitt Smith’s Hall of Fame career was built primarily with the Dallas Cowboys.  That is why they are not included in the Cardinals-only Hall of Fame list above.

Cardinals NFL Rookie of the Year Winners

The Cardinals have produced several outstanding rookies, but the two most notable league-wide Rookie of the Year winners from the franchise’s earlier history are:

Charley Trippi — 1947
Trippi immediately became a star.  His rookie season ended with the Cardinals winning the NFL championship.  In the championship game, he accumulated 206 all-purpose yards, including a 75-yard punt return touchdown and a 44-yard rushing touchdown.  

Ollie Matson — 1952
Matson shared the NFL Rookie of the Year honor in 1952.  He arrived in Chicago after competing in the 1952 Olympics and quickly demonstrated why the Cardinals had selected him with the third overall pick.  His combination of rushing, receiving and return ability made him one of the league’s most exciting players.

NFL MVP Winners as Cardinals

This is an unusual part of Cardinals history.
The Cardinals have never had an AP NFL MVP winner.  That means the franchise has not produced a player who has won the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award while representing the Cardinals.  This is true despite the presence of several outstanding Cardinals quarterbacks and offensive players.  Kurt Warner won the AP NFL MVP award in 1999 and 2001, but both awards came while he was with the St. Louis Rams.
Therefore, those MVP awards do not count as Cardinals MVPs under the criteria of this article.

The 1925 NFL Championship

The Cardinals’ first NFL championship came in 1925.  The championship remains controversial because of the dispute involving the Pottsville Maroons.   The Cardinals finished the season with a strong record and were awarded the championship after the Maroons were suspended.  Regardless of the controversy surrounding the 1925 season, the championship remains officially recognized in NFL history as a Cardinals championship.

The 1947 Championship

The second Cardinals NFL championship came in 1947.
This championship is one of the most important seasons in franchise history.
The Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 28–21 in the NFL Championship Game.
Charley Trippi was spectacular, and Jimmy Conzelman coached the team.
The Cardinals’ famous “Dream Backfield” featured players such as Trippi, Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg and Elmer Angsman.
The championship was particularly meaningful for the Bidwill family because Charles Bidwill had died earlier that year.  His widow, Violet Bidwill, was the owner when the Cardinals won the championship.

The Don Coryell Era

One of the most entertaining periods in Cardinals history came during the 1970s under head coach Don Coryell.  Coryell’s offense became famous for aggressive passing and innovative concepts.  The Cardinals won the NFC Eastern Division in both 1974 and 1975.
Players such as Jim Hart, Terry Metcalf, Mel Gray, Jackie Smith and Dan Dierdorf helped establish the Cardinals as one of the NFL’s most exciting offenses.  Although the team did not reach the Super Bowl during this period, the Coryell Cardinals became an important part of NFL offensive history.

The Move to Arizona

In 1988, Bill Bidwill moved the franchise from St. Louis to Arizona.
The team played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe and initially became the Phoenix Cardinals.  The move represented the beginning of an entirely new era.
In 1994, the team adopted the name Arizona Cardinals, connecting the franchise to the entire state rather than the city of Phoenix.  

The 1998 Playoff Breakthrough

The 1998 Cardinals ended one of the longest playoff droughts in NFL history.
Led by quarterback Jake Plummer, Arizona defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Game.  It was the Cardinals’ first postseason victory in 51 years.  The victory became one of the defining moments in the history of the Arizona franchise.

The 2008 Super Bowl Season

The greatest modern Cardinals season came in 2008.  
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt led a team featuring quarterback Kurt Warner, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver Anquan Boldin and a talented defense.  The Cardinals won the NFC Championship and reached Super Bowl XLIII.  In the Super Bowl, Arizona faced the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Cardinals came within seconds of winning the championship before Pittsburgh scored the deciding touchdown.  Larry Fitzgerald produced one of the greatest postseason performances by a wide receiver in NFL history.  

Larry Fitzgerald and the Modern Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald became the face of the Cardinals during the team’s transition into one of the NFL’s most recognizable franchises in Arizona.  His 2008 postseason was extraordinary.  He caught 30 passes for 546 yards and seven touchdowns during the Cardinals’ four playoff games.  His performance helped carry Arizona to its first Super Bowl appearance.  Fitzgerald continued playing for the Cardinals through the 2020 season and finished his career as the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions.  His entire NFL career came with Arizona, making his Hall of Fame selection especially significant to the franchise.

The Cardinals Legacy

The Arizona Cardinals’ legacy is different from that of many NFL franchises.
The organization has survived for more than a century while moving between three major football cities.  The Cardinals have played in Chicago, St. Louis and Arizona.  They have played in baseball stadiums, college stadiums and, eventually, a modern football-specific facility.  They have won NFL championships in two different eras, produced Hall of Fame players from nearly every generation of professional football, and remained under Bidwill family ownership since the early 1930s.  The franchise has also produced some of football’s most recognizable pioneers. 

Chris O’Brien helped establish the organization.  Charles Bidwill kept the franchise alive through difficult years.  Violet Bidwill became the NFL’s first female owner and won a championship.  Bill Bidwill moved the team to Arizona.  Michael Bidwill has overseen the franchise in the modern era. 

Most Outstanding Cardinals Coach: Jimmy Conzelman

For a Cardinals-specific legacy, Jimmy Conzelman deserves special recognition.
Conzelman’s Cardinals accomplishments include the 1947 NFL championship and the 1948 division championship.  The 1947 championship team became one of the most memorable early NFL teams, and Conzelman’s leadership was central to that success.  Don Coryell is another essential figure in Cardinals history because of the innovative offense and the 1974 and 1975 division championships. However, Conzelman’s championship achievement gives him a unique place in the franchise’s early history.  Most Outstanding Cardinals Player: Larry Fitzgerald  The choice of Larry Fitzgerald as the Cardinals’ most outstanding modern player is supported by the combination of longevity, production and postseason achievement.  Fitzgerald spent his entire 17-year career with Arizona.  He became the franchise’s all-time reception leader and was the centerpiece of the 2008 Super Bowl team.  His postseason performance that year remains one of the greatest individual playoff runs by a wide receiver.  Most importantly, Fitzgerald never left the Cardinals for another NFL team.  His entire professional legacy is therefore inseparable from the Arizona Cardinals.  His 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction cemented his place among the greatest players ever associated with the franchise.

Final Thoughts

The Cardinals’ history stretches from the earliest days of professional football to today’s NFL.  From Chris O’Brien and Ernie Nevers in Chicago, to Charles and Violet Bidwill and Charley Trippi, to Larry Wilson, Dan Dierdorf and Roger Wehrli in St. Louis, and finally to Larry Fitzgerald and the modern Arizona Cardinals, the franchise has passed through generations of football history.  The Cardinals have endured relocations, ownership transitions, changing league structures and generations of different players.
They remain one of the NFL’s original franchises and, most importantly, the oldest continuously operating professional football team in America.  Their history is not simply the story of an Arizona team.  It is the story of a franchise that began before the NFL itself existed and continues to carry the Cardinals name more than a century later.
Sources and historical checks.  The Pro Football Hall of Fame identifies the Cardinals as the NFL’s oldest continuously operating franchise and records their 1925 and 1947 NFL championships. 

The Hall of Fame’s Cardinals history and Cardinals sources confirm the Chicago-to-St. Louis-to-Phoenix/Arizona progression, including the major home-stadium changes. 
The Cardinals’ official history documents the Bidwill ownership succession, including Charles Bidwill, Violet Bidwill, Bill Bidwill and Michael Bidwill.   The Hall of Fame’s Cardinals listings support the Cardinals-associated Hall of Famers discussed above, while its career records distinguish players whose Hall credentials were primarily connected with other franchises.

For the 2026 update, Larry Fitzgerald was officially enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after spending all 17 NFL seasons with Arizona. 

The 1952 Rookie of the Year information for Ollie Matson is supported by contemporary historical records identifying him as a co-winner of the NFL Rookie of the Year award. 

     Artie Fischal