Cardinal Club

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The franchise began on Chicago's South Side in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club before Chris O'Brien moved them to Normal Field. After buying faded maroon jerseys, the team adopted the name Racine Street Cardinals, eventually becoming the Chicago Cardinals in 1922 to avoid confusion with another local team. In 1960, the team relocated to St. Louis, where fans called them the "Football Cardinals," "Gridbirds," or "Big Red" to distinguish them from MLB's St. Louis Cardinals. The move to Arizona occurred before the 1988 season, initially as the Phoenix Cardinals, changing to the Arizona Cardinals on March 17, 1994. Throughout these eras, the team has remained a constant presence in professional football, surviving decades of losing seasons and maintaining a legacy that predates the Super Bowl.

In Their Own Story

The Cardinals captured two NFL championships while based in Chicago: one in 1925, which was disputed by Pottsville Maroons supporters due to rule violations involving disbanded teams, and another in 1947 against the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1948, they returned for a rematch but lost 7–0 in a snowstorm in Philadelphia. After moving to Arizona, the team found new life under head coach Ken Whisenhunt in the late 2000s. The 2008 season saw quarterback Kurt Warner lead the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl appearance, where they defeated the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers en route to NFC Championship glory before losing Super Bowl XLIII 27–23 to Pittsburgh. In 2015, the franchise set a record with a 13–3 season and advanced to another NFC Championship Game, though they fell to the Carolina Panthers. As of 2025, the team holds the longest active championship drought in North American sports at 78 seasons.

Reader's Guide

Fans can catch the Cardinals playing at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, a suburb northwest of Phoenix. While home games moved there in 2006, the executive offices and training facility remain in Tempe, with a planned move to north Phoenix scheduled for 2028. Historically, summer training camps were held at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff from 1988 to 2012 (except 2005), but since 2013, practices have taken place at the team's home field, formerly known as University of Phoenix Stadium. The team has won five division titles since moving to Arizona: 1974 and 1975 in St. Louis, followed by 2008, 2009, and 2015. The Cardinals hold a unique distinction of never losing a playoff game at home, boasting a perfect 5–0 record that includes the 1947 NFL Championship Game.

Did You Know?

• The Cardinals are the only NFL team that has never lost a playoff game at home, holding a perfect 5–0 record.
• In St. Louis, the team was known as the "Gridbirds" or "Big Red" to avoid confusion with the local baseball team.
• From 1988 to 2012, except for 2005 when they trained in Prescott, the Cardinals held their summer training camp at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
• The team's 1925 NFL Championship is disputed by supporters of the Pottsville Maroons due to a scandal involving high school players on the opposing roster.
• As of 2025, the Cleveland Guardians hold the next longest championship drought in North American sports at one year less than the Cardinals.