The Arizona Cardinals hold the official record as the oldest continuous NFL franchise in professional American football. While the league itself was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), the Cardinals trace their origins back more than two decades earlier to 1898. Surviving multiple city relocations, two world wars, financial near-collapse, and name changes, the franchise maintains an unbroken operational lineage that predates the modern league.
Understanding how this historic club secured its longevity requires looking past modern stadiums and examining turn-of-the-century Chicago sandlot football. Their survival is a rare testament to early athletic club persistence, strategic ownership transitions, and charter membership in the foundational era of professional sports.
Origins on the South Side of Chicago
The franchise began in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club, an independent neighborhood team organized by builder and sportsman Chris O'Brien on the south side of Chicago. Shortly after forming, O'Brien acquired used faded maroon jerseys from the University of Chicago. He famously described the color not as maroon, but as "Cardinal red," giving the club its enduring identity.
The team underwent several early name changes dictated by neighborhood geography and street names. They played as the Racine Normals (named after Racine Avenue in Chicago) before becoming the Racine Cardinals.
Operating in an era before structured leagues, the team survived by scheduling games against local athletic associations and regional amateur clubs. They even suspended operations twice—first from 1906 to 1912 due to declining local interest, and again in 1918 because of World War I and the devastating Spanish flu pandemic. Despite these pauses, the core organization, equipment, and leadership continuity allowed the club to resume play rather than dissolve entirely, preserving its founding timeline.
Transition to Charter NFL Status
By 1920, professional football was a chaotic landscape of regional teams, frequent contract disputes, and loose oversight. Recognizing the need for stability, team representatives met in Hupmobile auto showroom in Canton, Ohio, to form the American Professional Football Association, which was renamed the National Football League in 1922.
The Cardinals joined as a charter member, alongside the rival Chicago Bears (then known as the Decatur Staleys). Today, the Cardinals and the Bears are the only two surviving charter franchises from the NFL's inaugural 1920 season.
Operating in Chicago during the 1920s and 1930s proved financially volatile. The team changed hands in 1932 when Chicago businessman and sports executive Charles Bidwill Sr. purchased the franchise for $50,000. Bidwill's acquisition established a family ownership structure that remains intact today, providing the financial anchor necessary to weather decades of economic shifts.
Surviving World War II and the Card-Pitt Era
The outbreak of World War II severely depleted professional sports rosters as players enlisted or were drafted into military service. By 1944, the Cardinals faced a severe player shortage that threatened to shut down operations permanently.
To keep the franchise alive, the NFL authorized a temporary merger with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 1944 season. The combined team became known colloquially as Card-Pitt. Playing a hybrid schedule between Chicago and Pittsburgh, the squad struggled immensely, finishing with a 0-10 record.
Though short-lived and winless, the merger served its purpose. It kept the franchise active through the height of wartime restrictions, protecting its historical continuity until regular operations resumed in 1945. Three years later, the Cardinals captured the 1947 NFL Championship, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles at Comiskey Park.
Relocations: From Chicago to St. Louis and Arizona
As the NFL grew in popularity and television markets expanded during the mid-20th century, the Cardinals faced mounting attendance and financial challenges sharing the Chicago market with George Halas's powerful Bears.
- The St. Louis Years (1960–1987): Seeking a fresh market, the franchise relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, ahead of the 1960 season. Dropping the geographic modifier "Chicago," the team played as the St. Louis Cardinals for 28 years, securing multiple playoff appearances while sharing a civic namesake with the city's Major League Baseball team.
- The Move to Arizona (1988–Present): In 1988, owner Bill Bidwill moved the team to the Phoenix metropolitan area. Initially playing at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe as the Phoenix Cardinals, the organization rebranded as the Arizona Cardinals in 1994 to represent the entire state.
Despite two major geographic relocations, the legal entity, corporate charter, and historical records remained uninterrupted. This distinction is what separates a relocated franchise from a defunct team that folded and was later revived under a new ownership group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Green Bay Packers older than the Arizona Cardinals?
No. While the Green Bay Packers were founded in 1919—making them older as a football club than the NFL itself—they did not join the league until 1921. The Cardinals trace their roots to 1898 and joined the NFL as a charter member in 1920, giving them a longer continuous operational history.
Why did the team change its name from Chicago to Arizona?
The team moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960 due to declining local revenue and stadium competition. When the franchise moved to Phoenix in 1988, it adopted a statewide identity in 1994 to build a broader fan base across the entire state of Arizona rather than just one city.
Did the franchise ever miss seasons entirely?
Yes. The team suspended operations during the 1906–1912 window due to local interest lulls and again in 1918 because of World War I and the influenza epidemic. However, because the organization, equipment, and management framework remained intact and resumed play rather than dissolving permanently, historians classify the franchise as continuously existing.
Who are the other charter members still active in the NFL?
Out of the numerous teams that formed the original APFA/NFL in 1920, only two original charter franchises survive today in continuous operation: the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears. Other historical teams either folded, merged out of existence, or joined in subsequent years.
