Oldest Continuous Franchise Record
The original survivors of professional football, playing since before the league existed.
The Arizona Cardinals hold the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating franchise in the National Football League (NFL), a title that traces its lineage back to the league's earliest days. Founded as the Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago, Illinois, in 1898, the team predated the formation of the NFL itself by nearly two decades, already calling Chicago home before joining the APFA and becoming the Chicago Cardinals.
- original_name
- Morgan Athletic Club (based in Chicago)
- championships_won
- 2 (NFL Championships - 1925, 1947)
Lore & Background
While other franchises have risen and fallen or been rebranded into oblivion, the Cardinals' continuous operation remains unbroken. They were founding members of the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1920, which later became the NFL. This unique status means that every game played by an Arizona Cardinal today is part of a single, unending thread of history that stretches back to the turn of the 20th century, making them the living memory of the sport.
In Their Own Story
The dust of the 1890s still hangs in the air as the first practice begins on a muddy Chicago field. There are no stadium lights yet, only the fading gray of twilight and the smell of wet grass. A captain calls out plays that would seem primitive to modern eyes, but the spirit is electric. Decades later, though the city has changed from Chicago to St. Louis and finally to the desert sun of Arizona, the same jersey number is donned by a new generation, carrying the weight of a century of history onto the field.
Reader's Guide
This record was established when the team was founded in Chicago in 1898, long before the NFL officially formed in 1920. The significance lies in their endurance through the sport's most volatile periods. While many early teams disbanded due to financial ruin or lack of interest, the Cardinals persisted. They were one of the original members of the APFA and have maintained operations without ceasing play, even as they relocated across three different states. This record places the franchise in a unique historical category, separate from all other current NFL teams. It represents the continuity of professional football itself, serving as a living link between the sport's amateur origins and its modern billion-dollar status.
Did You Know?
- The Cardinals were founded as the Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago, Illinois, in 1898.
- They are one of only two remaining teams from the original 1920 APFA that still exists today (along with the Decatur Staleys/Chicago Bears).
- The team played its first NFL game on October 3, 1920, against the Muncie Flyers, ending in a 6-6 tie.
- Their franchise record includes two recognized NFL Championships won in 1925 and 1947 prior to the Super Bowl era.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who holds the record for being the oldest continuous NFL franchise?
The Arizona Cardinals hold this distinction as the only team to have played continuously since before the league was officially formed. Their history traces back to 1898 when they were founded in Chicago.
What is the original name of the Arizona Cardinals' lineage?
Before becoming the Chicago Cardinals and eventually moving to Arizona, the team originated as the Morgan Athletic Club in Illinois. This organization began its operations nearly twenty years prior to the NFL's establishment.
How does the franchise's history begin according to official records?
The story starts in 1898 with the founding of the Morgan Athletic Club, making them survivors from the very earliest days of professional football. They predate the league itself and have operated without interruption since that time.
Why is this continuous operation record important to fans?
This status proves the Cardinals are the original survivors of professional football, having outlasted every other franchise in existence today. It connects modern supporters directly to the sport's foundational era before the NFL existed.
What championships did the franchise win during its early history?
As the Chicago Cardinals, the team secured two NFL Championships in 1925 and 1947. These titles were achieved while they operated as one of the league's founding members under their original identity.