Charles Bidwill

Charles W. Bidwill Sr. was a visionary NFL team owner who played a major role in shaping early professional football. A successful Chicago businessman, Bidwill purchased the Chicago Cardinals in 1933 after previously owning a stake in the Chicago Bears.

Under his leadership, the Cardinals became one of the league's most competitive franchises. His most famous move came in 1947 when he signed college star Charley Trippi for a then-record $100,000, forming the famed "Million Dollar Backfield." That same year, the Cardinals won the NFL Championship, their first in 22 years.

Bidwill was also instrumental in stabilizing the NFL during the Great Depression and World War II, helping guide the league through turbulent times. Though he passed away shortly before the Cardinals’ 1947 title win, his legacy endured.

He was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967, honored as one of the league’s foundational figures and a driving force behind its early growth.

Bidwill's Awards and Honors

• Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor
• Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
• Owner of the Chicago Cardinals (1933–1947)
• Architect of the "Million Dollar Backfield"
• Supporter of NFL Stability
• Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1967)
• Named one of the NFL’s Foundational Figures

NFL Teams

Chicago Bears (1931–1933)
Minority owner
Chicago Cardinals (1933–1947)
Owner