Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals, one of the NFL's oldest franchises, call the Phoenix metropolitan area home. They compete in the NFC West and play their home games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The team's roots trace back to 1898 in Chicago, where they began as the Morgan Athletic Club. They joined the NFL as a charter member in 1920, making them the oldest continuously run professional football team in the United States, alongside the Chicago Bears.

The Cardinals have moved twice: first to St. Louis in 1960, where they were often called the "Football Cardinals" to avoid confusion with baseball's St. Louis Cardinals, and then to Arizona in 1988. They spent 18 seasons at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe before moving to their current home in Glendale. Their training camp was held at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff until 2013, when it shifted to State Farm Stadium.

The franchise has two NFL championships, both from their Chicago days: a disputed 1925 title and a 1947 victory in the championship game. Since then, the Cardinals have endured long stretches of mediocrity. As of 2025, they hold the longest active championship drought in North American sports at 78 seasons. Their only Super Bowl appearance came in the 2008 season, a 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team has five division titles since the merger, with the most recent in 2015. Despite their struggles, they boast a perfect 5-0 home playoff record, including the 1947 championship game. [edit]

Chris O'Brien formed the Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago in 1898. In 1901, he bought used jerseys from the University of Chicago Maroons, their cardinal red color faded, and renamed the team the Racine Street Cardinals. The franchise joined the NFL as a charter member on September 17, 1920. Charles W. Bidwill purchased the team in 1932, and the Bidwill family has owned it ever since.

The Cardinals won their first NFL championship in 1925, though the title remains disputed due to scheduling controversies. Their second championship came in 1947, a 28-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Comiskey Park. That team featured Hall of Famer Charley Trippi. The franchise moved to St. Louis in 1960, where they played at Busch Stadium and later Busch Memorial Stadium through 1987. In St. Louis, the team was often called "Big Red" to distinguish it from baseball's Cardinals.

Relocation to Arizona came in 1988. The team played as the Phoenix Cardinals until 1994, when they became the Arizona Cardinals. Their first 18 seasons in the desert were at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. In 2006, they moved into State Farm Stadium (originally Cardinals Stadium, then University of Phoenix Stadium). That venue hosted Super Bowl XLII in 2008. The 2008 season saw the Cardinals reach their only Super Bowl, losing 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team set a franchise record with 13 regular-season wins in 2015, earning a first-round bye for the first time. [edit]