Billboards are popping up all over town, not celebrating a win, but demanding the Bidwill family sell the Arizona Cardinals. It’s a move that shouts absolute frustration, and when you look at the history, you get why fans are so fed up with the oldest continuous NFL team. We’re talking about a franchise that kicked off way back in 1898, and in its 128 years of existence, they’ve only got two titles to show for it: 1925 and 1947. Yeah, the 1925 one was literally *given* to them by the league. Next season will be the 80th anniversary of that ’47 championship, which just tells you how long it’s been since they actually hoisted a legitimate trophy.
A Century of “Almost” and “Never Quite There”
Think about that for a second. The oldest NFL team, and they’ve only played in three league championship games, winning just one. They’ve been in 18 playoff games in total. Considering the NFL didn’t even *start* a postseason until 1933, that means Arizona averages a playoff game every 5.1 seasons. That’s just wild, man. When the club packed up and moved from St. Louis to Phoenix in 1988, you’d think things would change, right? Nope. They’ve found limited success, picking up three division titles, making it to 12 playoff games, and famously losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII after the 2008 season. Fans still remember those brief flashes of hope, like the 1974 and 1975 teams under Don Coryell, snagging back-to-back division crowns only to crash out in their first playoff games. Or the absolute heartbreaker with Kurt Warner at QB in Super Bowl XLIII, holding that late lead only to have it ripped away. The very next year, under Ken Whisenhunt, they won the division again then got absolutely clobbered 45-14 in the playoffs. And who can forget the NFC Championship Game loss to the Carolina Panthers in 2015? These moments are etched in fans’ minds, not as triumphs, but as agonizing reminders of what could have been.
The Modern-Day Meltdown and What’s Brewing in 2026
But here’s the real kicker: all that heartbreak is old news. What about *now*? This is 2026, and the recent history is just as grim. Last season was an absolute disaster, with the Cardinals losing a franchise-record 14 games under head coach Jonathan Gannon. He was promptly sent packing after the team racked up 26 losses in his final two seasons. Since the 2016 season, they’ve made it to *one* playoff encounter, an embarrassing 34-11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after what looked like a decent 11-6-0 regular season in 2021. Take a look at these recent finishes; it’s a brutal read:
* 2016: 7-8-1 (2nd in division)
* 2017: 8-8-0 (3rd)
* 2018: 3-13-0 (4th)
* 2019: 5-10-1 (4th)
* 2020: 8-8-0 (3rd)
* 2021: 11-6-0 (2nd)
* 2022: 4-13-0 (4th)
* 2023: 4-13-0 (4th)
* 2024: 8-9-0 (3rd)
* 2025: 3-14-0 (4th)
It’s a consistent pattern of losing, missing the playoffs, and finishing dead last in the division. And what’s the roster looking like in 2026? Still devoid of an accomplished quarterback, the defense is struggling, and those high-round draft picks they were supposed to build around? Fizzled out and traded away for almost nothing. You can see why fans have hit their breaking point.
The Bidwill Legacy: Ownership Under Fire
When fans look for someone to blame for this endless cycle of disappointment, most eyes turn to the ownership. The Cardinals have been owned by the Bidwill family for generations, going all the way back to 1932 when Charlie “Blue Shirt” Bidwill bought the team. Today, Michael Bidwill is listed as the owner, representing the fourth generation of his family at the helm. It’s a family business, but for fans, it feels like a family curse. The lack of sustained success, the coaching carousel, the fizzling talent; it all points to a systemic problem that seems to originate from the very top.
With billboards demanding a sale, the message from the fanbase is loud and clear. They’re done waiting for things to change under the current regime. What’s at stake here is more than just another season; it’s the very soul of a franchise with a storied, if mostly sorrowful, history. For Cardinals fans, the question isn’t just “What about now?”, but “What about ever?”.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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