Established
1920
City
Chicago - St. Louis - Phoenix
League History
1920 – Present / National Football League
Team History
1994 - Present / Arizona Cardinals
1988 - 1993 / Phoenix Cardinals
1960 - 1987 / St. Louis Cardinals
1945 - 1959 / Chicago Cardinals
1944 / Card-Pitt
1920 - 1943 / Chicago Cardinals
Nickname
Cardinals - The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most beloved and successful teams in NFL history, with 11 World Championships and two Super Bowl titles. But few people know that the team's nickname has an interesting origin story.
St. Louis Cardinals Origin
In 1901, when the then-Chicago Cardinals were founded as part of a group called The Morgan Athletic Club, they adopted a cardinal red color for their uniforms because it was believed to be lucky. Some players even wore red underwear! As time went on and more fans began attending games at Comiskey Park (now U.S Cellular Field), they started referring to these “lucky” birds as “Cardinals” due to their bright colors on game days – hence giving rise to one of football’s oldest nicknames!
When owner Chris O'Brien moved his franchise from Chicago southward in 1960, he kept this same nickname but changed its spelling slightly by adding an "s" – thus creating what we know today as the St Louis Cardinals! This new moniker paid homage to its predecessor and served another purpose: It honored Cardinal John Glennon, who had been instrumental in bringing professional football back into Missouri after many years without any such presence there whatsoever.
Today this iconic team continues to bring joy and excitement every season while proudly representing both its city & state with honor & distinction - all thanks primarily due to those original fortunate birds that inspired them so long ago! Go Cards!!
Championship
Super Bowl 0
NFL Championship 0
1947, 1925
Stadium
2019 - Present / State Farm Stadium
2006 - 2018 / University of Phoenix Stadium
1988 - 2005 / Sun Devil Stadium
*St. Louis*
1966 - 1987 / Busch Memorial Stadium
1960 - 1965 / Busch Stadium
*Chicago*
1959 / Soldier Field & Metropolitan Stadium
1922 - 1925, 1929 - 1958 / Comiskey Park
1920 - 1921, 1926 - 1928 / Normal Park
Owner
2019 - Present / Michael Bidwill
1972 - 2019 / Bill Bidwill
1962 - 1972 / Bill Bidwill and Charles Bidwill, Jr.
1947 - 1962 / Violet Bidwill Wolfner
1933 - 1947 / Charles Bidwill
1929 - 1933 / Dr. David Jones
1898 - 1929 / Chris O'Brien
- 1960
- 1984
-
Moving to St. Louis
Chicago Cardinals owner Violet Bidwill had married St. Louis businessman Walter Wolfner in 1949, two years after inheriting the team from her late first husband, Charles Bidwill. When it became obvious that the Cardinals could no longer hope to compete with the Chicago Bears, a move to St. Louis seemed to make sense. The NFL conducted a survey of St. ... -
Move to Arizona
The overall mediocrity of the Cardinals, combined with an old stadium, caused game attendance to dwindle, and once again the Bidwill’s decided to move the team, this time to either Baltimore, Phoenix, or Jacksonville. Nonetheless, Cardinals fans were unhappy at losing their team, and Bill Bidwill, fearing for his safety, stayed away from several of the 1987 home games. Their ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
St. Louis Cardinals History
The St. Louis Cardinals history begins long before the team’s move to Arizona. Originally founded in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago, the franchise became known as the Chicago Cardinals and later relocated to St. Louis in 1960. During this era, they were widely referred to as the St. Louis Cardinals football team, sharing a city with the baseball club of the same name.
From 1960 to 1987, the St. Louis Cardinals football team built a loyal fan base. The franchise played its home games at Busch Memorial Stadium and developed heated rivalries with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. Although success was often limited, the team’s resilience and competitive spirit became a defining part of the St. Louis Cardinals history.
St. Louis Cardinals Achievements
The Cardinals never won a Super Bowl while in St. Louis, but they had notable highlights. In 1974 and 1975, under coach Don Coryell, the team won back-to-back NFC East titles. These years marked one of the strongest periods in the St. Louis Cardinals history, showcasing star players like Jim Hart, Mel Gray, and Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf.
Despite dedicated fans, stadium issues and limited playoff success led to a relocation in 1988. The team moved to Phoenix, later becoming the Arizona Cardinals. Today, the Arizona Cardinals continue the legacy that began with the St. Louis Cardinals football era.
Many legends emerged during this time. Hall of Famers such as Larry Wilson, Roger Wehrli, and Dierdorf left lasting marks on the franchise. Their contributions strengthened the St. Louis Cardinals history and gave the team recognition across the NFL.
While championships were scarce, the Cardinals achieved key milestones. The team produced several Pro Bowl players and earned multiple playoff appearances. Their 1970s division titles remain highlights of the era. To this day, fans remember the grit and passion of the St. Louis Cardinals football years.
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Retired Number
8 / Larry Wilson
40 / Pat Tillman
77 / Stan Mauldin
88 / J. V. Cain
99 / Marshall Goldberg
*Blue is this team’s history
