So, you want to know how old the Arizona Cardinals are? Buckle up. This isn’t just a number—it’s a wild ride through football’s attic.
The team is officially 126 years old in 2024. That’s older than sliced bread. Older than the forward pass itself.
They started way back in 1898. Yes, 1898. That’s the same year the first actual game of American football was played with a forward pass—by them.
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Back then, they were called the Morgan Athletic Club. In Chicago. Of course. Because why start anywhere boring?
The Name Game
Here’s a weird detail: They got the name “Cardinals” from used jerseys. The team bought faded maroon sweatshirts from the University of Chicago. The owner said, “That’s not maroon, that’s cardinal red.” And boom—a legend.
They didn’t even have a stadium. They played in a park. With actual trees. Fans sat on blankets.
Think about that. While the Cardinals were running plays in a field, the Wright brothers were still figuring out how to get a plane off the ground.
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Moving Madness
The Cardinals are the NFL’s ultimate nomads. They’ve moved four times. That’s more moves than a game of chess played by a caffeinated squirrel.
Chicago (1898–1959). Then St. Louis (1960–1987). Then Phoenix (1988–2005). Now Glendale, Arizona (2006–present). Each move was a drama. The St. Louis exit was so messy the city sued them. And lost.
They’re the only NFL team that’s been in three different time zones. Their logo should be a suitcase with wings.
The Longest Drought
Here’s the punchline: They’re the oldest team in the NFL, but they have the most losses ever. Over 800. That’s like being the oldest kid in class but always forgetting your lunch money.
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They didn’t win their first playoff game until 1998. That’s one hundred years after they were founded. A century. You could have been born, lived, and died waiting.
They have only one pre-Super Bowl championship—1947. They beat the Philadelphia Eagles. The trophy? A leather football with a plaque. No parade.
Quirky Cardinals
Head coach from 1920–1922 was a guy named Paddy Driscoll. He also played. And kicked. And sold tickets outside the gate.
In 1925, the Cardinals won the NFL championship by default. The Pottsville Maroons got disqualified for playing an illegal game. The Cardinals said, “Thanks, we’ll take it.”
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Their uniforms used to be yellow and blue. Yes, before red, they looked like a bruised banana. Until 1929.
Why This Matters
So, how old are the Arizona Cardinals? Old enough to have seen telephones invented. Old enough to have played against teams that no longer exist (like the Dayton Triangles). Old enough to have been a founding member of the NFL in 1920.
They’re older than the Green Bay Packers by 21 years. Older than the Chicago Bears by 22. The Cardinals are the granddaddy of the league—with all the wrinkles and weird stories that come with it.
Next time you see that cardinal bird logo, remember: That bird has seen two world wars, the invention of TV, and enough losing seasons to fill a library. It’s still flying. Barely. But flying.
And that’s the fun of it. The Cardinals aren’t just a team. They’re a living museum of chaos, luck, and stubbornness. Respect the age. Laugh at the history. Then go watch them lose in a dramatic, last-second way—because that’s how they roll after 126 years.