Arizona Cardinals replica helmet on a turf field
Arizona Cardinals replica helmet (Photo by dean bertoncelj on Shutterstock)
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Best Cardinals Players Of All Time: Top 7 Football Legends, According To Fans

January 3, 2024
by Matthew Sherdan

The Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) are one of the oldest franchises in all of professional sports. In fact, the Cardinals are considered the oldest team in the NFL. The team originated in the Southside of Chicago in 1898, dating back to professional football’s earliest days. The team played in Chicago until 1960, when the franchise relocated to St. Louis and joined their Major League Baseball (MLB) counterpart in that great city. In 1988, the franchise relocated again to the Southwest and sunny Phoenix, Arizona. The Cardinals have called Arizona home since ‘88. Undoubtedly, the team has had some legendary athletes come through the organization, but only a few can be called the best Cardinals players of all time. 

Whether you’re an avid football fan or just like to play fantasy football with your friends, a recent study suggests that simply getting out to watch a live sports event – whether it’s professional or amateur sports – is beneficial for your mental health. A survey of 7,000 adults found that those respondents who attended live sporting events scored better in terms of life satisfaction than those who had not recently attended events. That’s definitely a great reason to get out and watch some Cardinals football in the fall. 

It can be tough to plan to get out and watch your favorite team play live. Carving out time to get to the stadium might take away from other important life events. However, some fans plan an entire vacation around watching their team play in person. Another study found that the average sports fan is willing to travel and spend good money just to see their favorite team play in person. A survey of 2,000 self-identified sports fanatics examined the lengths people are willing to go to in order to watch their favorite sports team play in person. The survey found that the average fan is willing to travel a whopping five hours and 48 minutes plus spend $762.20 on tickets just to see their favorite team play live. Sounds like a great way to spend a vacation and celebrate your Cardinals fandom at the same time. 

So, which football legends are considered the greatest in Cardinals franchise history? StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 sports and football-related websites in an effort to bring you a consensus list of the best Cardinals players of all time. Our list comprises the seven most frequently listed Cardinals players from across these sites. Think we missed one of your all-time favorite Cardinals? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! 

aerial photography of NFL logo printed on field
NFL logo (Photo by Adrian Curiel on Unsplash)

The List: Best Cardinals Players, According to Sports Experts

1. Larry Fitzgerald

Easily topping the list of the best Arizona Cardinals players of all time is none other than legendary receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is arguably the greatest receiver of his generation, and he’s the best player Cardinals fans have ever known. “After being drafted in 2004, Fitzgerald became one of the most consistent players in the NFL, and he played a significant role on the way to Arizona’s only Super Bowl appearance. Fitzgerald missed just nine games in 17 years and was targeted at least 100 times in each of his first 16 seasons. He made a catch in every game from Week 8 of his rookie season to his final game on December 26, 2020, a span of 256 games that is second in NFL history to Jerry Rice (274). His 1,432 career receptions and 17,492 career yards are also second all-time to Rice,” explains Sports Illustrated. 

Fitzgerald is one of the greatest competitors in the history of professional football. Fitzgerald has been around football since he was young. He served as the ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings as a kid, and he forged a relationship with legendary receiver Chris Carter. Some of Carter’s messages clearly got through to Fitzgerald. 

“Real big surprise here. The face of the Arizona Cardinals franchise, Larry Fitzgerald was the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft and has been a superstar ever since. The uber-athletic Fitz has done nothing but catch passes and score touchdowns in Arizona. To date, he has 10,413 receiving yards and has scored 77 touchdowns. He currently ranks fifth all-time in NFL history for receiving yards per game (76.0). He also holds NFL records for most touchdowns in a postseason (7), most receptions in a postseason (30), most receiving yards in a postseason (546) and youngest player to record 700 passes,” adds Bleacher Report. 

For the record, Fitzgerald currently sits second all-time on the NFL’s wide receiver stats list, right behind the great Jerry Rice. Fitz seems to just find a way to take his game to the next level in the NFL playoffs. “The team selected him third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft and played 17 seasons with the Cardinals. By the time he finished playing in 2020, he was second all-time in receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492). Fitzgerald was a consistent performer throughout his career, earning three All-Pro and 11 Pro Bowl selections. He is also the youngest player to reach 11,000 receiving yards and the oldest player to have a 1,000-yard, five-touchdown season,” furthers Rotoballer. 

2. Larry Wilson

Larry Wilson could play any position in the secondary, and he’s one of the greatest secondary players in league history. “Larry Wilson was a defensive back from Utah from the Arizona Cardinals, who played from 1960 to 1972. For years he frustrated opposing quarterbacks. One of the most impressive of his stats was his five First-Team All-Pro years. Larry Wilson played all of his 13 seasons for the Cardinals while they were still located in St. Louis. With 52 interceptions, 800 interception yards, and five touchdowns over his career, it is easy to see why Wilson was such an effective defender,” writes Rookie Road. 

Wilson spent his entire NFL career with the Cardinals. He is still remembered as being one of the top safeties of all time, and his career accomplishments just keep going. “Wilson starred for the St. Louis Cardinals for 13 seasons — his entire career — and made eight Pro Bowls and five All-Pro first teams. He nabbed 52 interceptions, and what he lacked in size he made up for in enthusiasm and spirit. He was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1966, and made the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1960s and 1970s. Unfortunately, Wilson never got the chance to compete in the postseason. He was inducted into Canton in 1978,” furthers Clutch Points. 

Like some of the other all-time greats of his time, Wilson continued working for the Cardinals organization long after he retired. Wilson served as an executive for the franchise and he was easily the face of the franchise for decades. “After his playing career ended, Wilson had an incredibly long tenure as a coach and as an executive with the Cardinals, which stretched from 1973 until he retired after decades with the organization in 2002. In terms of longevity alone, it is hard to imagine someone who embodies Arizona as a franchise more than Wilson. Despite his passing in 2020, he is still revered as one of the franchise’s most beloved players,” adds Defiant Takes Football. 

3. Dan Dierdorf

Blocking into the third spot on the list of the best players in Cardinals franchise history is Dan Dierdorf. He is arguably the greatest offensive lineman the franchise has ever had, and he’s one of the best to ever play in the NFL. “In the peak of his NFL career, Dan Dierdorf was not only the best offensive tackle the Cardinals had ever seen but also one of the best in the league. Dierdorf was selected in the second round of the 1971 draft after a successful college career at the University of Michigan. The six-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro didn’t allow a single sack between 1976 and 1977 and set a league record in 1975, allowing just eight sacks in 14 games,” raves Fox News. 

Dierdorf was a brick wall at the right tackle position for the Cardinals franchise. He was quick, powerful, and graceful on the football field. “Playing on the offensive line is a thankless job. Regardless, Dan Dierdorf excelled for over a decade as a tackle and actually earned NFLPA Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in 1976, 1977, and 1978. In those three years, Dierdorf was integral in the best three-year stretch in Cardinals history. Led by the tackle, the Cardinals offensive line, as a unit, was among the best in the NFL. Dierdorf racked up five first-team All-Pro honors from 1975-1978 and then again in 1980. When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996, it was a given,” adds LWO Sports. 

The Cardinals had one of the best offensive lines in the entire league throughout Dierdorf’s career, and he was certainly one of the leaders of that unit. Upon retiring, Dierdorf went into the broadcasting booth and began calling NFL games. The legendary tackle was even the voice of Monday Night Football for a period of time throughout the ‘90s. 

“Despite breaking his jaw in 1977, Dan Dierdorf was named to the Pro Bowl each season from 1974-1978 and the First-Team All-Pro from 1976-1978. He was named Offensive Lineman of the Year by the NFLPA three consecutive times as he led the Cardinals to give up some of the fewest sacks in the league during his tenure. He didn’t allow the team to give up a single sack between 1976 and 1977,” furthers AZ Central. 

4. Aeneas Williams

Aeneas Williams is one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the franchise, and next to Larry Wilson, he’s the best cornerback the Cardinals have ever had. “A third-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 1991, Aeneas Williams was a bright spot on the defensive side during a decade of below-average teams in the desert. Williams started as a rookie and never looked back, becoming an elite NFL shutdown corner. He tied for the league lead in interceptions during his rookie campaign and would finish with 46 total interceptions before being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2001. Williams was named to six Pro Bowls and was selected as an All-Pro three times,” explains Bleacher Report. 

Williams played cornerback and safety in the NFL. Although Williams eventually left the Cardinals to play for the St. Louis Rams, his time in a Cardinals uniform will never be forgotten. “Williams was one of the league’s premier defender’s during his time with the team, as he was a 1st team all pro twice and was selected to the Pro Bowl every year from ’94-’99. He helped lead the Cardinals to a playoff victory in 1998 with two interceptions against hall of famer Troy Aikman. He also made the NFL all-decade team of the 90’s. Aeneas was only a part of 1 winning season with the Cards (1998, the Cards finished 9-7) but his play always kept Cardinals highlights playing on Sunday evening Sportscenter,” writes Back Sports Page. 

Williams played defensive back with attitude, toughness, and grace. Williams was among the best shutdown cover corners in the league over the course of his career, and when he got his hands on the football, he was a threat to turn interceptions into touchdowns for his team. 

“After two seasons at Southern College, Williams was ready for Sunday upon his debut in 1991. He finished second in the league in interceptions as a rookie en route to tallying 46 picks during his Arizona tenure (and 55 overall for his career). His nine pick-sixes are amongst the all-time leaders. He earned six straight Pro Bowls and four First-Team All Pro selections as a Cardinal, and was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014,” writes Clutch Points. 

5. Charley Trippi

The fifth spot takes us all the way back to the ‘40s and ‘50s with Charley Trippi. Trippi was the franchise’s first great running back, and his legacy as a Cardinals player tends to be forgotten in the modern era of Cardinals football. “Charley Trippi did a little bit of everything for the Cardinals and played an instrumental role when the franchise won its first championship. Trippi was a member of the ‘Million-Dollar Backfield’ that pushed the Cardinals to the 1947 NFL title and the 1948 championship game. He had 104 total yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the 28–21 championship win over the Eagles in ‘47. Trippi scored on a 44-yard rush to open the scoring and added a 75-yard punt return in the third quarter,” writes Sports Illustrated. 

Trippi could do it all on the football field and he’s beyond deserving of being called one of the best Cardinals players. He retired with thousands of yards, rushing, passing, and receiving. “Charley Trippi was instrumental in the Cardinals’ 1947 NFL championship. In nine seasons with the Cardinals, he was nominated for the Pro Bowl twice and the First Team All-Pro once, rushed for 3,506 yards, passed for 2,547 and received another 1,321. At the time of his retirement, that was the most of any player in NFL history,” adds AZ Central. 

Trippi retired as one of the most versatile and valuable players in NFL history. He was also one of the league’s first players to sign a gigantic contract at $100,000 in the ‘40s, and that made him one of the richest professional players in league history at the time. Trippi deserved every cent, he was a football savant. 

“Trippi is only player in franchise history who can claim to have been the best player on a championship Cardinals team. With his $100,000 deal, Trippi was the highest-paid member of Chicago’s distinguished ‘Million Dollar Backfield’ of the late 1940s. He was considered a quintuple-threat due to his ability to play multiple positions, including quarterback, punter, and kick returner. He rushed for 3,506 yards, threw for 2,547, and caught 1,321 in his career,” adds Clutch Points. 

6. Kurt Warner

Next up is none other than legendary quarterback Kurt Warner. In the mid-2000s, Warner put the Cardinals franchise on his shoulders and brought the team back to relevance. Warner was never supposed to even be a star quarterback for the Cardinals, he was signed as a backup. “His first couple seasons were rough, as he went 3-12 as a starter before being replaced by a young Matt Leinart on multiple occasions. But by 2007 Warner had retaken the starting job and ran with it. From 07-09 Warner threw for 83 touchdowns and led the Cardinals to two straight playoff appearances. In 2008 the team made the Super Bowl, led behind some great performances by Warner, specifically his campaign against the Eagles in the NFC championship that season. In the Super Bowl, he came a toe tap away from possibly being a 2-time Super Bowl champion. Despite the loss, he’s the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era to lead the team to the title game, giving him the edge over some other franchise favorites,” explains Back Sports Page. 

Warner’s story in professional football is one of the most inspiring success stories of all time. Warner is the first quarterback to take two different teams to a Super Bowl, and he nearly won a championship with both of them. “Many will remember Kurt Warner for his years with the St. Louis Rams as a member of the so-called ‘Greatest Show on Turf.’ The Hall of Famer won an MVP and a Super Bowl during his Rams years. However, Warner actually holds the distinction of being the only quarterback in Cardinals franchise history to lead his team to the Super Bowl. Warner led the Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII with a solid performance in the regular season and playoffs. Despite the loss in the big game and despite his short tenure with the team, Warner’s 2008 season will be remembered by Cardinals fans for taking his team to their only Super Bowl appearance,” furthers Defiant Takes Football. 

Super Bowl XLIII featured Warner’s Cardinals facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals were never expected to make it to the Super Bowl that season, but Warner and Larry Fitzgerald together wouldn’t be denied. “Kurt Warner will go down in Cardinals’ history as the only quarterback to lead the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance in 2008, when he threw for 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns in the postseason. Warner is a legend outside of Arizona, having been signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 before helping the St. Louis Rams win a Super Bowl in 2000. The four-time Pro Bowler was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017,” adds Fox News. 

7. Jackie Smith

Rounding out the list of the best Cardinals players in franchise history is none other than tight end Jackie Smith. Smith was a late-round NFL Draft pick that ended up being a great steal in the draft, and he’s easily the greatest tight end in team history. “The Cardinals did not draft Jackie Smith expecting to get a Hall of Famer. Smith was a 10th-round selection in 1963, but made the team and became a staple of the offense for much of the next 15 years. His 212-yard effort against the Steelers as a rookie remains the third-best single-game showing in team history. He closed his Cardinals career with 480 receptions for 7,918 yards and 40 touchdowns,” writes Sports Illustrated. 

Smith’s stats are great for a tight end, regardless of era. However, given that Smith played in an era of run-first offense, his stats are even more impressive. “A tenth-round draft selection who got his chance at starter due to injury, Jackie Smith became one of the most prolific receivers in Cardinals history from 1963 to 1977. In the midst of five consecutive Pro Bowl nominations from 1966-1969, he put up a career year of 56 receptions for 1,205 yards in 1967; he finished out his Cardinals career with 480 receptions for 7,918 yards,” explains AZ Central. 

Of course, some of you likely remember Smith from his playing days with the Dallas Cowboys. Smith played for the Cowboys of the ‘70s and he was a versatile weapon for Roger Staubach, but that was the tail end of his career. Smith will forever be remembered by Cardinals fans as one of the best to ever play for the organization. “It’s depressing that football fans widely remember him as the guy who dropped a pass from Roger Staubach in Super Bowl XIII. But Smith did have a legendary career, especially during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is largely credited as one of the players who revolutionized the tight-end position. By the time he retired, his 7,918 receiving yards were the most by any player at the position,” furthers Rotoballer. 

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