The Cardinals
built strong teams during the 1920s, 1940s, and 1970s, capturing
a total of two NFL titles and four division crowns during those
decades. Because the first Super Bowl was not played until 1967,
however, the Cardinals have never played in it. The team’s
championship lineup of 1947 starred the famed Dream Backfield of
quarterback Paul Christman, fullback Pat Harder, and halfbacks Elmer
Angsman and Charley Trippi. During the 1970s quarterback Jim Hart
commanded one of the league’s most potent offenses.
The Cardinals
organization dates from 1898, when the Morgan Athletic Club played
regular games on Chicago’s South Side. The club adopted the
name Cardinals in 1901 when team owner Chris O’Brien, a painting
and decorating contractor, bought used maroon uniforms from the
University of Chicago that had faded to the color of cardinal red.
In 1920 the
Chicago Cardinals became charter members of the American Professional
Football League, the NFL’s predecessor. The team’s first
star was future Hall of Fame halfback Paddy Driscoll, who was known
for his drop-kicking prowess. The Cardinals, based in Comiskey Park,
captured their first NFL crown in 1925 under head coach Norman Barry.
Following the
1925 championship, the Cardinals struggled for two decades, recording
only two winning records from 1926 to 1945. One highlight during
those years was when star running back Ernie Nevers came out of
retirement to join the club in 1929. On Thanksgiving Day of that
year he scored all of the team’s 40 points in a victory over
the Chicago Bears. World War II (1939-1945) deprived the team of
so many players that in 1944 the Cardinals merged with the Pittsburgh
Steelers to form a club called Card-Pitt. The combined squad lost
all ten of its games.
From 1946 to
1948 head coach Jimmy Conzelman directed the Cardinals to three
consecutive winning seasons. In 1947 Conzelman put together the
offensive unit of Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Elmer Angsman, and
Charley Trippi, which gained the name the Dream Backfield because
of its overwhelming offensive production. The Cardinals rolled through
the season and went on to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the
1947 NFL Championship Game.
The Cardinals
repeated as division champions in 1948 behind the NFL’s top
offensive attack. Harder had a sensational year, scoring six touchdowns
and converting on all 53 of his extra-point attempts. But after
averaging 33 points per game during the regular season, Chicago
was upset 7-0 in a championship game rematch against Philadelphia.
After Christman’s departure in 1949, the Cardinals tried to
fill the quarterback slot with seven different players, including
Trippi. But without solid leadership on the field, the team posted
just two winning records during its remaining 11 seasons in Chicago.
In 1960 the
franchise moved to St. Louis, enjoying a solid first season in its
new home. Running back John David Crow surpassed the 1,000-yard
mark, and defensive back Jerry Norton led the NFC in interceptions.
During the 1960s the Cardinals finished with winning seasons five
times, yet failed to qualify for postseason play.
In 1974 second-year
head coach Don Coryell took the Cardinals to the playoffs for the
first time in 26 years. Coryell was named the league’s top
coach, while quarterback Jim Hart and running back Terry Metcalf
shared player of the year honors. St. Louis lost in the first round,
but the following year the team repeated as division champions.
Wide receiver Mel Gray and running back Jim Otis each led his respective
position in yards gained, supported by an offensive line that featured
Dan Dierdorf, a future Hall of Fame member, and Conrad Dobler, who
was considered one of the era’s most intimidating players.
St. Louis again lost in the first round of the playoffs.
The Cardinals
played inconsistently during the next two decades, posting several
winning records but reaching the postseason only once (1982) from
1976 to 1996. In 1979 running back Ottis Anderson rushed for 1,605
yards and was named both player of the year and rookie of the year.
Notable individual achievements during the 1980s included four more
1,000-yard seasons by Anderson, wide receiver Roy Green’s
yardage championship in 1984, (1,555 yards) and quarterback Neil
Lomax’s two NFC yardage titles, in 1984 with 4,614 yards and
in 1987 with 3,387 yards. During the 1990s Aeneas Williams became
one of the NFC’s finest cornerbacks.
After a deal
between team owner Bill Bidwill and the St. Louis County government
to build the team a new domed structure failed, the franchise moved
to Arizona in 1988. In 1998 second-year quarterback Jake Plummer
led the Cardinals to the team’s first playoff appearance since
1982 and first postseason victory since 1947.
The Arizona
Cardinals have never played in the Super Bowl.
