PRESEASON WEEK 2 GAME RELEASE #KCvsAZ Mark Dal ton - Sr. Vice Presid ent, Med ia Rel ations Ch ris Mel vin - Sr. Director, Med ia Rel ations Mike Hel m - Sr. Manag er, Med ia Rel ations Chase Russell - Manager, Corporate Communications Imani Suber - Media Relations Coordinator KANSAS CITY CHIEFS VS. ARIZONA CARDINALS State Farm Stadium | August 20, 2021 | 5:00 PM
THIS WEEK’S PREVIEW ARIZONA CARDINALS - 2021 SCHEDULE The Cardinals welcome the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs to State Preseason Farm Stadium on Friday for a matchup that will air na onally on ESPN. Follow- Date Opponent Loca on AZ Time ing this game Arizona is next in front of its home fans in Week 2 of the regular season vs. Minnesota on Sept. 19. Aug. 13 DALLAS State Farm Stadium W, 19-16 Aug. 20 KANSAS CITY+ State Farm Stadium 5:00 PM Highligh ng Friday's game will be the reunion of Cardinals head coach Kliff Aug. 28 @ New Orleans Caesars Superdome 5:00 PM Kingsbury and Chiefs All-Pro QB Patrick Mahomes. Before he was a fi rst-round dra pick, NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP, Mahomes played three seasons at Regular Season Texas Tech during Kingsbury's me as head coach. In 2016, Texas Tech led the Date Opponent Loca on AZ Time na on in total off ense and Mahomes led the na on in passing yards. Sep. 12 @ Tennessee Nissan Stadium 10:00 AM While the Cardinals and Chiefs have met just 13 mes during the regular sea- Sep. 19 MINNESOTA State Farm Stadium 1:05 PM son, they have had twice as many matchups (26) during preseason. The vast Sep. 26 @ Jacksonville TIAA Bank Field 10:00 AM majority of those occurred when both teams were based in Missouri. Between Oct. 3 @ L.A. Rams SoFi Stadium 1:05 PM 1968 and 1987, mee ngs (both preseason and regular season) between the Oct. 10 SAN FRANCISCO* State Farm Stadium 1:25 PM Cardinals and Chiefs were known as the Missouri Governor's Cup. The two Oct. 17 @ Cleveland* FirstEnergy Stadium 1:05 PM teams squared off during the preseason in all 20 years during that span and Oct. 24 HOUSTON* State Farm Stadium 1:25 PM they also met fi ve mes during the regular season. Oct. 28 GREEN BAY# State Farm Stadium 5:20 PM Following this week's game the Cardinals make their fi rst road trip of the season Nov. 7 @ San Francisco* Levi's Stadium 2:25 PM when they travel to New Orleans for the preseason fi nale against the Saints. Nov. 14 CAROLINA* State Farm Stadium 2:05 PM Nov. 21 @ Sea le* Lumen Field 2:25 PM ENO & THE ROOKIES SHINE VS. DALLAS -BYE- Dec. 5 @ Chicago* Soldier Field 11:00 AM The Cardinals opened preseason play with a 19-16 Dec. 13 L.A. RAMS+ State Farm Stadium 6:15 PM victory over the Dallas Cowboys last Friday. With Dec. 19 @ Detroit* Ford Field 11:00 AM many of Arizona's starters not in ac on, it was a host Dec. 25 INDIANAPOLIS^ State Farm Stadium 6:15 PM of younger players who made an impression - in par- Jan. 2 @ Dallas* AT&T Stadium 11:00 AM cular second-year RB Eno Benjamin and numerous Jan. 9 SEATTLE* State Farm Stadium 2:25 PM players from of the 2021 dra class. + ESPN BENJAMIN STANDS OUT IN 1ST GAME WITH CARDS # FOX/NFL Network Thursday Night Football A 7 round selec on (222ⁿ overall) in the 2020 NFL ^ NFL Network Dra out of Arizona State, Benjamin played in his * Subject to exible scheduling decisions fi rst game as a Cardinal last week. Following a rookie fl campaign that featured a cancelled preseason and in which he was inac ve in all 16 regular season games - it was Benjamin's fi rst game ac on since Nov. 30, 2019 with the Sun Devils. Following a strong showing early in training camp, the second-year back had G AME RELEASE INDEX a big game in the midst of his fi ght for a roster spot. Benjamin rushed for 50 yards and a TD on just fi ve carries while also totaling 84 yards on three Page Contents kickoff returns. 2 Cardinals-Chiefs Matchup Notes ARIZONA'S DRAFT CLASS HAS IMPRESSIVE SHOWING 3 By The Numbers / State Farm Stadium Info The Cardinals top fi ve picks in the 2021 NFL Dra - LB Zaven Collins (1 Rnd, 4 New Faces in 2021 / Wa & Jones Pairing 16 overall), WR Rondale Moore (2ⁿ Rnd, 49 overall), CB Marco Wilson 5-6 Schedule Notes / Roster Highlights (4 Rnd, 136 overall), LB Victor Dimukeje (6 Rnd, 210 overall) and CB 7 2021 Dra Class Breakdown Tay Gowan (6 Rnd, 223 overall) - all put together strong performances. 8 Cardinals Leadership / Michael Bidwill / Steve Keim COLLINS: Started in his NFL debut and fi nished with two tackles, a tackle for loss and a QB hit. Took down Cowboys RB Tony Pollard in the backfi eld for a 9 2020 Season Highlights two-yard loss on the game's second play. 10-11 Kyler Murray Highlights 12-13 DeAndre Hopkins Highlights MOORE: Did a li le of everything in his 23 off ensive snaps. Had three recep- ons for 23 yards while also rushing twice for 16 yards. 14 A.J. Green Highlights WILSON: Played 35 snaps and fi nished with three forced incomple ons (in- 15 Chase Edmonds / James Conner / Chris an Kirk cluding two passes defensed) on six targets. 16-17 J.J. Wa Highlights DIMUKEJE: Accounted for the Cardinals only takeaway with a fumble recov- 18 Chandler Jones Highlights ery early in the second quarter. 19 Budda Baker / Robert Alford / Malcolm Butler 20 Special Teams Highlights / Prater / Lee / Gardeck GOWAN: A er missing the 2020 college season, returned to the fi eld and posted a tackle and a pass defensed in 34 snaps. 21-31 2020 Sta s cs / Rosters / Depth Chart BROADCAST INFORMATION Television: ESPN / Play-By-Play: Steve Levy Analyst: Louis Riddick Analyst: Brian Griese Sideline: Lisa Salters Cardinals Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM / Play-By-Play: Dave Pasch Analyst: Ron Wolfl ey Sideline: Paul Calvisi Cardinals Spanish Radio: KQMR 100.3 FM / Play-By-Play: Luis Hernandez Analyst: Rolando Cantu
1 CARDINALS-CHIEFS CONNECTIONS CARDINALS-CHIEFS PRESEASON SERIES
CHIEFS CONNECTIONS Cardinals OL Rodney Hudson was selected by the Chiefs in the second- Friday's prime me matchup on ESPN will be round (55 overall) of the 2011 NFL Dra . He played four seasons (2011-14) the 27 all- me preseason mee ng between the Cardinals and Chiefs da ng back to 1968. in Kansas City and appeared in 51 games (35 starts). He started 34 of the The only NFL teams the Cardinals have faced fi nal 35 games he played with the Chiefs. more in the preseason than Kansas City are Cardinals RBs coach James Saxon held the same role for Kansas City from Chicago (29x) and Denver (28x). The Cardinals 2001-07 and was dra ed by the Chiefs in 1988, playing RB for the team are 10-15-1 in the preseason vs. Kansas City. through the 1991 season. The vast majority of those contests occurred Cardinals Off ensive Assistant Don Shumpert spent part of the 2014 season when both teams were based in Missouri. on the Chiefs roster as a wide receiver. Between 1968 and 1987, mee ngs (both CARDINALS CONNECTIONS preseason and regular season) between the Chiefs DE Alex Okafor was selected in the fourth-round (103rd overall) of Cardinals and Chiefs were known as the Missouri Governor's Cup. The two the 2013 NFL Dra by the Cardinals and he went on to play four seasons teams squared off during the preseason in all 20 years during that span and (2013-16) with Arizona. they also met fi ve mes during the regular season. th The Cards and Chiefs have met in the preseason just fi ve mes in the 32 Chiefs WR Chad Williams was selected in the third-round (98 overall) of years since. the 2017 NFL Dra by Arizona. Chiefs TE Evan Baylis spent fi ve games on the Cardinals roster during the CCARDS-CHIEFARDS-CHIEFS PPRESEASONRESEASON SSERIESERIES 2020 season. OOvverallerall PreseasonPreseason Series:Series: 110-15-10-15-1 CCarardinalsdinals atat hhomeome vvs.s. KKC:C: 44-7-7 Chiefs DBs coach Dave Merri held the same post with the Cardinals during the 2018 season. Merri played linebacker for the Cardinals from 1993-95, FFirirstst PPreseasonreseason MeeMee ng:ng: 88/17/68/17/68 @ KC, L, 10-1C,3 L, 10-13 appearing in 35 games. LasLast PPreseasonreseason MMeeee ng:ng: 88/15/15/15/15 vs.vs. KC, L, 19-3C,4 L, 19-34 LLasast CCardinalsardinals PPreseasonreseason WWin:in: 88/16/08/16/08 @ KC, W, 27-1C,7 W, 27-17 MISSOURI/KANSAS CITY CONNECTIONS Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill was born in St. Louis and earned a Bach- elor of Science degree in Finance from St. Louis University in 1987. A COACH FACES HIS FORMER PUPIL Cardinals DE Markus Golden is a na ve of St. Louis and was a record-break- ing RB at A on High School before going on to star at the University of Missouri from 2012-14. When he was hired as the Cardinals head coach in 2019, Kliff Kingsbury was recog- Cardinals LB Isaiah Simmons hails from Olathe, KS, which is a suburb of Kan- nized as one of the profession’s brightest sas City. His high school is located just 26 miles southwest of Arrowhead and most-innova ve off ensive minds Stadium. while working with quarterbacks dur- Cardinals Off ensive Assistant Don Shumpert is a St. Louis na ve and won ing his 11 years (2008-18) at the college the 2008 Missouri State High School Athle c Associa on Class 5 state cham- level. pionship at Hazelwood East playing on both sides of the ball as a WR and DB. Among the six future NFL QBs Kingsbury Cardinals Equipment Manager Mark Ahlemeier was born in St. Charles, MO mentored in that me was prized pupil and a ended Ritenour High School and Florissant Valley College in St. Louis. Patrick Mahomes. The future fi rst-round pick, NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP, Ma- Cardinals Assistant Athle c Trainer Jeff Herndon is from Hallsville, MO and homes played three seasons (2014-16) earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri. at Texas Tech while Kingsbury served as ARIZONA CONNECTIONS head coach. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid served as the off ensive line coach at Northern Mahomes was the starter at Tech for two Arizona University in 1986. full seasons (2015-16) and in that me Chiefs TEs coach Tom Melvin was an assistant coach at Northern Arizona the Red Raiders fi nished #2 (2015) and from 1986-87 and also earned his master's degree from the University. #1 (2016) in the na on in total off ense while he threw for a combined 9,705 yards and 77 TDs in 25 starts. Chiefs DB Will Parks was a four-year (2012-15) le er-winner at the Univer- sity of Arizona, where he played in 53 games (31 starts) for the Arizona de- As a sophomore in 2015, Mahomes became the youngest QB in NCAA his- fense in the winningest stretch in school history. tory to amass 5,000 yards of total off ense. He eclipsed the 5,000-yard mark again in 2016, becoming just the third quarterback ever to record 5,000+ PRO/COLLEGE CONNECTIONS yards of total off ense in back-to-back seasons. Mahomes led the na on with Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins (2013-19) and DL J.J. Wa (2011-20) played 5,052 passing yards in '16. alongside Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu (2018) with the Houston Texans. Mahomes at Texas Tech under Kingsbury Chiefs T Orlando Brown (2015-17) and OL Creed Humphrey (2017-20) protect- Year Com A Pct Yds TD INT Rate ed Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (2016-18) at Oklahoma. 2016 388 591 65.7 5,052* 41 10 156.9 Cardinals WR Chris an Kirk and Chiefs S Armani Wa s played together at Texas 2015 336 517 56.0 4,283 32 14 149.6 A&M from 2015-17. 2014 211 345 61.2 2,539 24 13 138.4 *Led the na on Chiefs CB Deandre Baker (2019), OL Mike Remmers (2019) and Cardinals LB Markus Golden (2019-20) played together for the Giants. In addi on to Mahomes, Kingsbury also mentored future NFL QBs Baker Cardinals CB Marco Wilson (2017-20) played with Chiefs WR Antonio Callaway Mayfi eld, Johnny Manziel, Case Keenum, Davis Webb and Nic Shimonek (2015-17) at Florida. while coaching at the college level. Cardinals DL Rashard Lawrence (2016-20) played with Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards- Helaire (2017-20) and RB Darrel Williams (2015-18) at LSU. During Lawrence MATHIEU MAKES HIS AZ RETURN and Edwards-Helaire’s me with the program the Tigers won the 2020 BCS Na- onal Championship. For the fi rst me since 2017, All-Pro S Tyrann Cardinals LB Isaiah Simmons (2016-19), Chiefs LB Dorian O’Daniel (2013-16) Mathieu will be on the fi eld at State Farm and WR Cornell Powell (2016-20) played together at Clemson. During Simmons Stadium when the Cardinals host the Chiefs and Powell’s tenures the Tigers won the 2018 BCS Na onal Championship. on Friday night. Chiefs DE Frank Clark (2015-18), DT Jarran Reed (2016-18) and Cardinals TE Dra ed by Arizona in the third round (69th Darrell Daniels (2018) played together in Sea le. overall) of the 2013 NFL Dra , Mathieu spent Chiefs G Joe Thuney (2016-20) and Cardinals CB Malcolm Butler (2014-17) fi ve seasons (2013-17) with the Cardinals. In played together in New England and won Super Bowl LI. 66 games (57 starts) with Arizona, he totaled Cardinals OL Shaq Calhoun (2014-18) played alongside Chiefs LB Willie Gay 308 tackles, 11 INTs, 41 passes defensed, 28 (2017-19), DT Chris Jones (2013-15) and OL Darryl Williams (2015-19) at Mis- tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles sissippi State. and a fumble recovery. Cardinals RB James Conner (2013-16) and Chiefs WR Maurice Ffrench (2016- Mathieu had his best season with Arizona in 19) played together at Pi . 2015 when he earned 1st-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors a er totaling 89 tackles, 11 Chiefs TE Noah Gray and Cardinals LB Victor Dimukeje played together at Duke tackles for loss, 5 INTs, a career-high 17 passes defensed and a forced fumble. from 2017-20. Has was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (October of ’13), NFC Chiefs WR Demarcus Robinson (2013-15), Cardinals OL Max Garcia (2012-14) Defensive Player of the Month (November of ’15) and NFC Defensive Player and OL D.J. Humphries (2012-14) played together at Florida. of the Week (Week 3 of ’15) during his me in Arizona. 2 BY THE NU MBERS WELCOMING BACK THE RED SEA IN 2021
59,954 Following a 2020 campaign in which Fans in a endance for the Cardinals preseason opener vs. the Dallas Cowboys the majority of NFL teams played in at State Farm Stadium last week. That is nearly 20 thousand more than the total mostly empty stadiums due to the CO- a endance for all 16 regular season games for the Cardinals in 2020 (39,894). VID-19 pandemic, the Cardinals wel- comed fans back to State Farm Stadium 2016 as the team opened its 16 season at Year that Texas Tech - under head coach Kliff Kingsbury - led the na on in total the venue last week in the preseason off ense while future Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes led the the na on in passing opener vs. Dallas. yards. Of Arizona's 16 regular season games 6 last season, just fi ve were played with the general public in a endance. Those Pro Bowlers that the Cardinals acquired during the off season via free agency or fi ve contests saw a total of just 39,894 fans on hand. Last Friday, a total of trade: J.J. Wa , A.J. Green, Malcolm Butler, Rodney Hudson, Ma Prater and 59,954 fans were in a endance as the Cardinals earned a 19-16 victory over James Conner. Those six players have a combined 20 Pro Bowl selec ons and the Cowboys. 11 All-Pro nods. Once State Farm Stadium opened in 2006 the Cardinals sold out every pre- 198.0 pandemic game played there. Combined sacks for Wa (101.0) and LB Chandler Jones (97.0) in their careers. A CATALYST FOR THE CARDINALS SUCCESS The duo have combined for 9 Pro Bowl selec ons, 7 1 -team All-Pro nods, 451 State Farm Stadium has proven to be a catalyst for the Cardinals success QB hits, 278 tackles for loss and 52 forced fumbles. in the last decade-plus. 61.0 Below is a look at the Cardinals results at State Farm Stadium compared Sacks for Jones in just 69 games with the Cardinals. He enters this year needing to 18 seasons at Sun Devil Stadium. just 6.0 sacks to pass Freddie Joe Nunn (66.5) as the franchise all- me sack Overall Comparison 15+ seasons at 18 seasons at leader. Sta s c State Farm Stadium Sun Devil Stadium Sellouts 145 12 93.6 Regular Season Home Record 68-50-2 64-80 Pass-blocking grade for OL Rodney Hudson over the last six seasons (2015-20) Home Win % .575 .444 according to ProFootballFocus.com, which ranks first among all NFL centers. Postseason Record 5-4 1-1 The site credits him with just three sacks allowed in 3,445 pass-blocking snaps Postseason Home Record 4-0 0-0 and a 1.2% pressure rate during that span. Seasons with Winning Record 5 1 Postseason Berths 4 1 6,153 Division Titles 3 0 Total yards for the Cardinals off ense in 2020 - which represents the third-high- Conference Championship Games 2 0 est season total in franchise history. It also gave Arizona the NFL's #6 ranked Super Bowl Appearances 1 0 off ense in 2020 (384.6 ypg). 2,237 Rushing yards for the Cardinals in 2020. Along with Arizona's 22 rushing TDs, it IT G ETS LO UD IN THERE marked just the sixth me in franchise history - and fi rst me since 1984 - the Cardinals had 2,000+ rushing yards and 20+ rushing TDs in a season. With fans expected back in NFL stadiums across the country in 48 2021, the Cardinals return to Sacks for the Cardinals defense in 2020 despite the absence of All-Pro LB th one of the league's best home Chandler Jones. That ed for 4 in the NFL. fi eld advantages. 179 From the inaugural year at State Tackles for loss for the Cardinals defense in two seasons (2019-20) under Farm Stadium in 2006 through defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Only Pi sburgh (193) has more during 2019, Cardinals opponents accu- that span. mulated 170 accepted false start penal es in the regular season. That was the most for any home team in the 61 NFL during that span. Total TDs (passing and rushing) for QB Kyler Murray in his fi rst two NFL sea- sons. In league history, only Dan Marino (68) and Cam Newton (62) had more NFL Leaders - Opponent False Start Penal es (2006-2019) total TDs in their fi rst two NFL seasons. Rnk Home Team FS Stadium 1 Cardinals 170 State Farm Stadium 67.2 2 Seahawks 152 CenturyLink Field Comple on percentage for Murray in 2020 - a new franchise single-season 3t Vikings 148 U.S. Bank Stadium/Metrodome/TCF Bank record. Combined with his 64.4 comple on percentage in 2019, Murray has 3t Titans 148 Nissan Stadium posted two of the top-5 comple on percentage totals in franchise history in his 5 Lions 143 Ford Field fi rst two NFL seasons. 5 PLAYING A CRUCIAL ROLE DURING THE PANDEMIC Players in the NFL that have at least 75 passes defensed and 15 INTs over the last six seasons (2015-20), a group that includes CB Malcolm Butler (79 PD & 17 INTs since 2015). Since the start of the pandemic, State Farm Stadium has served a number of 115 important func ons as the site of numer- Recep ons for WR DeAndre Hopkins in 2020. That set a franchise single-sea- ous blood drives, PPE (Personal Protec- son record and also ed his career high for a single season. Hopkins ed for ve Equipment) drives, tes ng drives #2 in the NFL in recep ons, ranked #3 in receiving yards (1,407) and his seven and as one of the na on’s fi rst - and most 100-yard ou ngs ed for #2 in the league last season. successful - vaccina on sites. 850 Early in the pandemic, blood dona ons Scrimmage yards for RB Chase Edmonds in 2020. He had more scrimmage and PPE hit cri cally low levels and State yards in 2020 than he had in his first two seasons (2018-19) combined (719). Farm Stadium served as the site of nu- Edmonds also had a career-high five TDs in 2020. merous blood drives and a pair of PPE drives to help ailing pa ents and fi rst responders. 1,454 In 2021, State Farm Stadium was also host to one of the fi rst - and most suc- Career points for K Ma Prater, which ranks third among ac ve players behind only Robbie Gould (1,731) and Mason Crosby (1,682). cessful - vaccina on sites in the na on. Between January and April, more than 800,000 COVID-19 vaccines were administered at State Farm Stadium, 13 which accounted for nearly 20% of the total doses administered in Arizona Career TD recep ons of 50+ yards for WR A.J. Green. Over the last 10 seasons during that period. (2011-20), only DeSean Jackson (19) has more TD catches of 50+ yards. The site was so successful that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kama- 7.0 la Harris par cipated in a virtual tour on February 8 and the administra on Sacks in 2020 for LB Dennis Gardeck - who signed with the Cardinals as a rookie called the opera on “an incredible model.” Biden told Arizona Department of free agent out of Sioux Falls in 2018. Gardeck's 7.0 sacks were the most in Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ during the tour; “I got a call during the franchise history by a player who entered the league undra ed. He piled up Super Bowl from the commissioner of football (Roger Goodell) off ering us, 7.0 sacks despite playing just 93 snaps on defense in 2020. the federal government, the 30 major stadiums. They're going to be coming to you to look at how you did it because you're doing such a great job.” 3 THE NEW FAC ES IN 20 2 0 QUARTERBACKS BEWARE
Among the new faces in Arizona this season are 3 addi ons to Kliff Kings- bury's coaching staff , 29 veterans acquired during the free agent period, 7 dra picks and 2 rookie free agents. Coaching Staff (New Addi ons) Shawn Jeff erson - Wide Receivers Devin Fitzsimmons - Assistant Special Teams Ronald Booker - Defensive Assistant In addi on to the new hires, two exis ng coaches received promo ons in the off season: Sean Kugler is now the Run Game Coordinator/Off ensive Line. Cam Turner is now the Quarterbacks Coach. THE NEW PLAYERS IN 2021 With DL J.J. Wa and LB Chandler Jones both facing down opposing off enses in 2021, the Cardinals defense now features the most accomplished pass-rushing duo in the NFL. Between the two All-Pros, Wa and Jones have combined for: Sta s c Total Total Seasons Played 19 Pro Bowls 8 1st-Team All-Pro Selec ons 7 Games Played 252 VETERAN ACQUISITIONS Sacks 198.0 Player Posi on Prev. Team Quarterback Hits 451 Andre Baccellia Wide Receiver Patriots Brandon Bowen Off ensive Line Panthers Tackles For Loss 278 Ian Bun ng Tight End Colts Forced Fumbles 52 Malcolm Butler Cornerback Titans Fumble Recoveries 25 Shaq Calhoun Off ensive Line Bengals James Conner Running Back Steelers Seasons Leading NFL Sacks 3 Jack Crawford Defensive Line Titans Seasons of 17.0+ Sacks 5 Darqueze Dennard Cornerback Falcons Seasons of 10+ Sacks 11 Greg Dortch Wide Receiver Falcons SHARED DOMINANCE Tavien Feaster Running Back Lions Wa has 101.0 sacks in his career, while Jones enters the 2021 season with 97.0 Rico Gaff ord Wide Receiver Raiders Jamell Garcia-Williams Linebacker 49ers sacks. Jones needs 3.0 sacks for the Cardinals to become the fi rst team to feature mul ple players with 100.0+ career sacks since the Vikings (John Randle/Chris A.J. Green Wide Receiver Bengals Doleman) and Chiefs (Derrick Thomas/Leslie O’Neal) in 1999. Sean Harlow Off ensive Line Falcons Demetrius Harris Tight End Bears Da ng back to 2012 (Jones' rookie season), the duo rank #1 and #2 in the NFL in Marcus Henry Off ensive Line Cowboys both total sacks and games with mul ple sacks (1.5 or more). Rondey Hudson Off ensive Line Raiders NFL Leaders – Sacks (2012-20) Margus Hunt Defensive Line Bengals Rnk Player (Current Team) Sack Colt McCoy Quarterback Giants 1 Chandler Jones (AZ) 97.0 Tyler Newsome Punter Chiefs 2 J.J. Wa (AZ) 95.5 David Parry Defensive Line Patriots 3 Von Miller (Den) 94.5 Ma Prater Kicker Lions 4 Cameron Jordan (NE) 93.5 Ross Travis Tight End Jets 5 Jus n Houston (Bal) 92.0 J.J. Wa Defensive Line Texans Antoine Wesley Wide Receiver Ravens NFL Leaders – Games w/ Mul ple Sacks (2012-20) Shawn Williams Safety Bengals Rnk Player (Current Team) Games Brian Winters Off ensive Line Bills 1 J.J. Wa (AZ) 30 Daryl Worley Cornerback Raiders 2 Chandler Jones (AZ) 24 Bryson Young Linebacker Falcons 3 Jus n Houston (Bal) 23 4t Aaron Donald (LAR) 22 2021 DRAFT PICKS 4t Cameron Jordan (NO) 22 Player Posi on Rnd (Overall) School Zaven Collins Linebacker 1 (16 ) Tulsa Wa (2012, 2014-15) and Jones (2017, 2019) are the only ac ve players in the Rondale Moore Wide Receiver 2ⁿ (49 ) Purdue NFL with mul ple seasons of 17.0+ sacks. Marco Wilson Cornerback 4 (136 ) Florida Ac ve NFL Leaders – Seasons w/ 17+ Sacks Victor Dimukeje Linebacker 6 (210 ) Duke Rnk Player (Current Team) 17+ Years (Sacks) Tay Gowan Cornerback 6 (223 ) Central Florida 1 J.J. Wa (AZ) 3 2012 (20.5), 2014 (20.5), 2015 (17.5) James Wiggins Safety 7 (243 ) Cincinna 2 Chandler Jones (AZ) 2 2017 (17.0), 2019 (19.0) Michal Menet Off ensive Line 7 (247 ) Penn State 3t Shaquil Barre (TB) 1 2019 (19.5) 2021 ROOKIE FREE AGENTS 3t Aaron Donald (LAR) 1 2018 (20.5) 3t Jus n Houston (Bal) 1 2014 (22.0) Player Posi on School Cam Murray Defensive Line Oklahoma State 3t Von Miller (Den) 1 2012 (18.5) Bernhard Seikovits* Tight End No College 3t Robert Quinn (Chi) 1 2013 (19.0) *Allocated to Cardinals a part of NFL's Interna onal Player Pathway Program 3t Aldon Smith (Sea) 1 2012 (19.5) PRESSURE GOES BEYOND SACKS Since 2012, Jones and Wa are two of three players with 25+ forced fumbles. C ARDINALS PRONUNC IATIO NS NFL Leaders – Forced Fumbles (2012-20) Rnk Player (Current Team) FF 1t Chandler Jones (AZ) 27 WR Andre Baccellia buh-CHELL-ee 1t Robert Quinn (Chi) 27 TE Darrell Daniels duh-RELL 3 J.J. Wa (AZ) 25 4 Lavonte David (TB) 24 CB Darqueze Dennard dar-KWEZ / deh-NARD 5t Khalil Mack (Chi) 23 LB Victor Dimukeje dee-moo-KAY-gee 5t Von Miller (Den) 23 DL Michael Dogbe DOG-bee In the last 10 seasons (2011-20), a player has recorded at least 28 tackles for DL Leki Fotu LECK-ee / FOH-too loss in a season fi ve mes. Wa (3x) and Jones (1x) account for four of those LB Devon Kennard duh-VONN / ken-ARD fi ve seasons. DL Josh Mauro MORE-oh NFL Players w/ 28+ Tackles For Loss in a Season (2011-20) Rnk Player (Year) TFL OL Michal Menet Michael / MEN-et 1 J.J. Wa (2012) 39 TE Bernhard Seikovits BURN-hard / SIKE-oh-vi s 2t J.J. Wa (2014) 29 QB Chris Streveler STREV-uh-ler 2t J.J. Wa (2015) 29 4t Chandler Jones (2017) 28 LB Tanner Vallejo vuh-LAY-ho 4t Von Miller (2012) 28 4 AWARD-WINNING ACQ UISITIONS DEBUT OF THE 17-GAME REGULAR SEASON
Arizona acquired 29 veterans during the free agency For the fi rst me ever, the NFL will have a 17- period. That includes six players who have a com- game regular season beginning in 2021. Teams bined 20 Pro Bowl selec ons and 11 All-Pro nods. DL have played a 16-game regular season since J.J. Wa (5), WR A.J. Green (7), OL Rodney Hudson 1978. The league had a 14-game regular season (3), K Ma Prater (2) and CB Malcolm Butler (2) have between 1961-77. all been named to mul ple Pro Bowls while RB James Conner earned Pro Bowl honors in 2018. To accommodate the 17 game, teams will go from a four-game preseason to a three-game Cardinals Award-Winning Acquisi ons slate. With Arizona having an extra road game dur- Player PB All-Pro ing the regular season, two of its three preseason J.J. Wa 5 6 (5x 1 team & 1x 2ⁿ team) matchups will be held at State Farm Stadium. A.J. Green 7 2 (both 2ⁿ team) Rodney Hudson 3 1 (2ⁿ team) HOW THE EXTRA MATCHUP IS DECIDED Ma Prater 2 1 (2ⁿ team) The addi onal game is an interconference match- Malcolm Butler 2 - up between AFC and NFC divisions two years re- James Conner 1 - moved from their last mee ng, going against the team that fi nished in the same spot in their respec ve divisions. The site of a team’s 17th game will rotate each year, with the AFC ge ng a 9th home game HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED TEAMMATES in 2021. That will give Arizona a 9th road game this season. For the Cardinals - who fi nished 3 in the NFC West in 2020 - the extra game A DEFENSIVE TRIO WITH 13 SEASONS OF DOUBLE-DIGIT SACKS means a trip to Cleveland to face the Browns, who fi nished 3rd in the AFC North DL J.J. Wa and LB Chandler Jones aren't the only accomplished pass rushers last season. That game will take place in Week 6. on the Cardinals defense. Add in LB Markus Golden and Arizona has a trio of CARDINALS SCHEDULE NOTES IN 2021 defenders who have each posted 10.0+ sacks in mul ple seasons in their careers. Below is a look at Arizona’s scheduled opponents for the 2021 season and how The three players have combined for 13 seasons with double-digit sacks in their they nished in 2020. careers, including nine seasons with at least 12.5 sacks. fi Home ‘20 Rec Away ’20 Rec Seasons with Double Digit Sacks - Jones, Wa & Golden L.A. Rams 10-6 L.A. Rams 10-6 Player 10+ Years (Sacks) San Francisco 6-10 San Francisco 6-10 Jones 6 2019 (19.0), 2017 (17.0), 2018 (13.0), 2015 (12.5), 2013 (11.5), 2016 (11.0) Sea le 12-4 Sea le 12-4 Wa 5 2014 (20.5), 2012 (20.5), 2015 (17.5), 2018 (16.0), 2013 (10.5) Green Bay 13-3 Detroit 5-11 Golden 2 2016 (12.5), 2019 (10.0) Minnesota 7-9 Chicago 8-8 HOPKINS AND GREEN IN ELITE COMPANY AS A PAIR Houston 4-12 Tennessee 11-5 When they take the eld together in Week 1 of the regular season, WRs DeAn- Indianapolis 11-5 Jacksonville 1-15 fi Carolina 5-11 Dallas 6-10 dre Hopkins (10,009) and A.J. Green (9,430) will become just the eighth WR duo Cleveland 11-5 in NFL history - and fi rst since 2011 - to enter a season with each having 9,000+ receiving yards. Arizona is ed for the 13th-hardest strength of schedule in 2021 based on their opponents’ .507 winning percentage in 2020. NFL History - Teammates with 9,000+ Career Receiving Yards Entering Season Team Year(s) Players The Cardinals join the Ravens and Seahawks as the only three teams that Arizona 2021 DeAndre Hopkins & A.J. Green start the season with three of their fi rst four games on the road. Houston 2011 Andre Johnson & Derrick Mason The Cardinals take on the AFC South (Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Cincinna 2010 Terrell Owens & Chad Johnson New England 2009 Randy Moss & Joey Galloway Tennessee) and the NFC North (Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota). St. Louis 2006-07 Isaac Bruce & Torry Holt In addi on to facing the AFC South and NFC North, Arizona will host Carolina, Oakland 2001-03 Jerry Rice & Tim Brown who fi nished the 2020 season in 3rd place in the NFC South. The Cardinals will Washington 2000 Irving Fryar & Andre Reed travel to play the Cowboys, who fi nished 3rd in the NFC East in 2020. Oakland 2000 Tim Brown & Andre Rison The Cards have eight games against teams that fi nished the 2020 season with at least 10 wins and seven games vs. teams that had 11+ wins. FAMILIAR FACES WITH NEW NUMBERS The Cardinals will play nine games against teams that earned a spot in the postseason in '20 - Sea le (twice), the L.A. Rams (twice), Green Bay, Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Tennessee. Five of those games will be played on A er the NFL announced that DBs, LBs, RBs, the road and four will be played at State Farm Stadium. TEs and WRs are now allowed to wear single digit numbers on their jerseys, Cardinals fans will no ce a group of returning players that will CARDS PARTNER WITH BETMGM & GILA RIVER wear new jersey numbers in 2021. Cardinals Players w/ New Number in 2021 Player New # 2020 # Last week, BetMGM RB Chase Edmonds 2 29 announced partner- S Budda Baker 3 32 ships with Gila River CB Byron Murphy, Jr. 7 33 Hotels & Casinos and LB Isaiah Simmons 9 48 the Arizona Cardinals RB Jonathan Ward 29 38 for retail and online DL Rashard Lawrence 90 92 sports be ng, estab- lishing its fi rst rela on- ships in the state of ADDING AN ALL-PRO ON THE O-LINE Arizona. BetMGM will bring its industry leading pla orm online once legalized sports Arizona acquired C Rodney Hudson and a 7th-round be ng launches in Arizona. The company also plans to open retail sportsbooks selection in the 2021 NFL Draft from Las Vegas in at the three Arizona Gila River proper es and at State Farm Stadium. exchange for the Cardinals 3 -round selection. “This is a tremendous opportunity to build upon our long-standing rela onship Hudson is a 10-year NFL veteran who played the past with Gila River and launch a new one with BetMGM," said Cardinals owner Mi- six seasons (2015-20) with the Raiders where he start- chael Bidwill. "They are best-in-class partners whose excellence and exper se ed at center in all 92 games he appeared in. in this emerging space will provide a new and innova ve way to engage and Recent Success: All three of Hudson's Pro Bowl selec- interact with our fans.” tions (2016-17, 2019) have come in the last 5 seasons. nd Gila River Hotels & Casinos operates three Arizona loca ons, all owned by the He was named to the Pro Bowl and earned 2 -team Gila River Indian Community: Wild Horse Pass, Lone Bu e, and Vee Quiva. All All-Pro honors in 2019. three will feature custom built BetMGM Sportsbooks, set to open near football A Reliable Player: In the last eight seasons, Hudson season, refl ec ve of its sports-centric brand. played 124 of a possible 128 games - missing just one game in the last five years. Hudson has played at least 800 snaps each of the last eight seasons, including six “Arizona sports fans are extremely passionate and we’re confi dent they’ll en- years playing 1,000+ snaps. joy the BetMGM experience,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenbla . “Gila River Hotels & Casinos and the Arizona Cardinals represent the state’s premier casino Keeping His QBs Clean: According to Pro Football Focus, Hudson ranks first des na ons and sports franchise, making them the ideal partners for us.” among all NFL centers with a 93.6 pass-blocking grade dating back to 2015. The site credits him with just three sacks allowed in 3,445 pass-blocking snaps and a BetMGM plans to open a BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium, with a 1.2% pressure rate over the last six seasons. targeted opening in me for the 2022 NFL season. 5 # 99 COMES O UT O F RETIREMENT YOUNG GUYS IN THE MIDDLE
In the middle of the Cardinals defense is a pair of DL J.J. Wa has been wearing the #99 jersey since his college days at the University of Wisconsin. young linebackers that the team selected in the fi rst When the Cardinals acquired him in free agency, round of the last two NFL Dra s: 22-year old rookie a number change seemed inevitable since the LB Zaven Collins and 23-year old second-year LB Isaiah Simmons. digits were re red by the Cardinals in tribute to Marshall Goldberg, a star on the 1947 champion- Collins was taken 16th overall in the 2021 NFL Dra ship team. out of Tulsa and Simmons was taken 8th overall in However, #99 was unre red for Wa a er he 2020 out of Clemson. It marked just the second received permission to wear it from Goldberg's me in team history (1985-86) the Cardinals se- daughter, Ellen Goldberg Tullos. Wa was pre- lected a LB in the fi rst round of back-to-back dra s. pared to select a new number a er learning of COLLINS AND SIMMONS - THE COLLEGE NUMBERS Goldberg's impressive legacy, but then read an Simmons was the 2019 Butkus Award Winner and ar cle saying Tullos would be fi ne with him tak- Collins was the recipient of the Lombardi Award, ing over #99. Wa gave her a call to confi rm and Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik indeed had her blessing. Award in 2020. Both were unanimous 1 -team All- Remembering Marshall Goldberg American selec ons in their fi nal college season. Goldberg played eight seasons (1939-43, ’46- Sta s c Simmons Collins 48) for the Cardinals a er a being selected in the Games 44 32 1939 NFL Dra . Tackles 236 236 Was a member of the 1947 NFL Championship Tackles for Loss 28 29 team, and his late INT in the tle game vs. the Sacks 10.0 7.5 Eagles sealed the victory. Intercep ons 4 5 Passes Defensed 19 8 A six- me All-Pro defensive back, Goldberg also Forced Fumbles 5 3 played hal ack/fullback and was a return special- Fumble Recoveries 1 3 ist. During the 1941 season Goldberg rushed for RARE ATHLETIC TALENTS 427 yards and 3 TDs and had 313 receiving yards Both Simmons and Collins possess a rare combina on of size and speed for the on off ense. He also led the NFL with 7 INTs, 12 kick- linebacker posi on. off returns, 290 kickoff return yards and 1,236 all- purpose yards. Collins: At 6-4, 260, he clocked a 4.67 40-yard dash me at his pro day. In 2020, de- spite playing just eight games, he recorded 4 INTs with TD returns of 38 and 96 yards. Goldberg’s playing career was interrupted by his service during World War II. He joined the Navy in 1943 and spent two years in the South Paci c rising to the Simmons: At the 2020 NFL Combine, Simmons ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, ed for fi the 7 -best total among all prospects at any posi on. rank of lieutenant. In prepara on for his service Goldberg underwent rigorous Scout and Ranger training in a unit that was a forerunner of the Navy Seals. Two SIMMONS EARNS ALL-ROOKIE HONORS IN 2020. months a er the bombing of Hiroshima, Goldberg walked the remains of the city Simmons earned PFWA All-Rookie honors for the Cardinals last season a er to help assess the damage. pos ng 47 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, an INT, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 16 games (seven starts). PLAY OF THE YEAR IN 2020 IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES One of the enduring moments of the 2020 NFL season was the Cardinals "Hail Murray" victory Aug. 17 - Teams must reduce rosters to maximum of 85 players by 1:00 PM (MST) over the Buff alo Bills in Week 10. In that con- test, Arizona earned 32-30 win over the Bills on Aug. 20 - Cardinals vs. Kansas City - Preseason Game #2 (State Farm Stadium) a game-winning TD pass from QB Kyler Murray Aug. 24 - Teams must reduce roster to maximum of 80 players by 1:00 PM (MST) to WR DeAndre Hopkins, in which the Cardi- Aug. 28 - Cardinals @ New Orleans - Preseason Finale (Caesars Superdome) nals Pro Bowl receiver outjumped three Bills defenders to come down with the ball. Aug. 31 - Teams must reduce rosters to maximum of 53 players by 1:00 PM (MST) The “Hail Murray” was named the “Best Play” Sept. 1 -Teams may establish Prac ce Squad of no more than 16 players at the 2021 ESPYS, held in July in New York City. The “Hail Murray” was also named the 2020 POTENTIAL MILESTONES IN 2021 Bridgestone Clutch Play of the Year at NFL Hon- ors in February. LB CHANDLER JONES According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Cardi- Needs just 3.0 sacks to reach 100.0 sacks for his ca- nals victory over the Bills marked just the second reer. Would become one of 17 players in NFL history to me in 60 years that a game featured mul ple reach 100.0 career sacks in their fi rst 10 seasons. go-ahead passing TDs in the fi nal 0:40 seconds Needs 6.0 sacks to pass Freddie Joe Nunn (66.5) as of regula on. Bills WR Stefon Diggs had a 21-yard TD catch with 0:34 remaining that gave the Bills a 30-26 lead. Four plays later Hopkins brought down a 43-yard the franchise all- me leader. TD on a pass from Murray with just 0:02 remaining. With 17.0 sacks, would join Reggie White (3) and cur- rent teammate J.J. Wa (3) as the only players in NFL HOPKINS TRADE NAMED TRANSACTION OF THE YEAR history with at least three seasons of 17.0 sacks. The “Hail Murray” would have never happened if the Cardinals hadn’t acquired WR DEANDRE HOPKINS Hopkins last off season. The trade that brought the All-Pro wideout to Arizona received the Alpha Award for “Best Sports Transac on of the Year” from the Needs 800 receiving yards to become the third player in NFL history with 800+ receiving yards in each of his fi rst nine seasons: Jerry Rice (12) and Gary Clark (9). MIT Sloan Sports Analy cs Conference at the group’s annual gathering in April. Needs 991 receiving yards to become the seventh player in NFL history with 11,000+ receiving yards through his fi rst nine seasons. Needs 99 recep ons to surpass Marvin Harrison (845) for the most recep ons CEREAL FOR A GOOD CAUSE by a player through his fi rst nine seasons in NFL history. Needs 100 recep ons to become the third player in NFL history with 100+ Earlier this month, DeAndre's Hopkins' cereal catches in at least four consecu ve seasons. - Hop Box - was made available for sale, includ- ing in Fry's Food Stores across the Valley. QB KYLER MURRAY Can become the fi rst player in NFL history with 3,500+ passing yards and 500+ A por on of the proceeds from the ce- rushing yards in each of his fi rst three seasons. real will benefi t the nonprofi t organiza on Can become just the fourth QB in NFL history with 3,500+ passing yards and S.M.O.O.O.T.H. - which was launched by Hop- 20+ TD passes in each of his fi rst three seasons. kins' mom, Sabrina Greenlee, to help survivors of domes c violence. Needs 10 rushing TDs to join Cam Newton (3x) as the only QBs in NFL history with 10+ rushing TDs in mul ple seasons. Murray would become the fi rst QB to The cereal boxes features a rendering of Hop- accomplish the feat in consecu ve seasons. kins' "Hail Murray" TD catch that defeated the Buff alo Bills last season. The box DL J.J. WATT also features a color-in panel that can be illustrated and submi ed via social Needs 9.0 sacks to become the eighth player to reach 110 sacks in 145 games media for chance to win signed merchandise. or fewer. Wa enters the 2021 season with 101.0 sacks in 128 career games. 6 C ARDINALS 20 21 DRAFT C LASS HIG HLIG HTS
CARDS SELECT 7 IN 2021 NFL DRAFT VICTOR DIMUKEJE - ROUND 6a (210TH) - DUKE
The Cardinals selected seven players in the 2021 NFL Dra , including fi ve on de- Last name pronounced “dee-moo-KAY-gee”. fense. In using its 4 , both 6 and fi rst of its two 7 round picks on defensive players, Arizona dra ed four consecu ve defenders in a single dra for the Hails from Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the fi rst me since 2000. U.S. with his family when he was 8 years old. The Cardinals had 13 picks in the last two dra s and have used nine of those Started all 49 games at Duke a er becoming on defensive players. starter as a true freshman. Recorded 166 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, 28 QB pressures, 5 Cardinals 2021 NFL Dra Picks forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. Was a Rd Overall Name Pos College Freshman All-America selec on in 2017. 1 16th Zaven Collins LB Tulsa 2 49th Rondale Moore WR Purdue His 21.5 career sacks are the 2ⁿ -most in Duke 4 136 Marco Wilson CB Florida history. 6a 210th Victor Dimukeje LB Duke As a senior in 2020, he started all 11 games for 6b 223rd Tay Gowan CB UCF the fourth straight year and recorded 44 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 7a 243 James Wiggins S Cincinna sacks, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 5 QB pressures. 7b 247th Michal Menet OL Penn State Graduated from Duke a semester early with a degree in Evolu onary An- thropology. Also earned a Marke ng and Management Cer fi cate. ZAVEN COLLINS - ROUND 1 (16TH) - TULSA
RD Was the second linebacker selected in the 2021 TAY GOWAN - ROUND 6b (223 ) - CEN. FLORIDA dra (Micah Parsons, 12th to Cowboys) and the fourth defender selected. Became the fi rst UCF player ever dra ed by the A three-year starter (2018-20) at Tulsa, played in Cardinals. 32 career games and totaled 236 tackles, 29 tack- Opted out of 2020 season to protect the health les for loss, 7.5 sacks, 8 passes defensed, 5 INTs, 3 of his newborn daughter, Skylar, who was born fumble recoveries and 3 forced fumbles. Recipient prematurely and with health complica ons. of the Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award in 2020. Was also a unan- In his junior season in 2019, Pro Football Focus imous 1st-team All-American selec on. gave him an 80.1 coverage grade a er he gave up just 20 recep ons on 50 targets. According to the Hails from Hominy, Oklahoma which has a popula- ra ngs site, his 26.6 passer ra ng allowed in single on of 3,500. Did not received a single DI scholar- coverage since 2019 was the best in the na on. ship off er un l his mom, Haley, took money from her 401K and drove him to 12 camps across the region. Transferred to UCF in 2019 from Butler (El Do- Tulsa was his sole DI off er. rado, KS) Community College and had a breakout season, appeared in 12 games (9 starts) with 31 tackles, 2 INTs and 8 passes Has a rare combina on of size and speed - even at the linebacker posi on. At defensed. Gave up just 20 recep ons on 50 targets that season. 6-4 and 260 pounds, the All-American clocked a 4.67 40-yard dash me at his pro day. Athle cism was on display in 2020 when - despite playing just eight games Helped make UCF history in 2021. He was one of fi ve players - and three de- - he recorded 4 INTs and 152 return yards, with TD returns of 38 and 96 yards. fensive backs - dra ed from the school. In high school, was a four-year starter on both off ense and defense, playing QB, linebacker and safety. As a star ng QB at Hominy (OK) High, Collins' career totals JAMES WIGGINS - ROUND 7a (243RD) - CINCINNATI were 4,084 rushing yards and 54 TDs to go along with 3,056 passing yards and 32 TDs. As a senior in 2016, led Hominy to a 14-0 record and a state tle. Just the 6 Cincinnati player ever drafted by the Cardinals and the first Bearcat defender. RONDALE MOORE - ROUND 2 (49TH) - PURDUE Played 32 career games at Cincinna , collect- ing 87 tackles with 5 INTs (1 returned for a TD), 18 • In three seasons (2018-20) at Purdue, Moore appeared passes defended and 2 forced fumbles. He was a in 20 games and recorded 178 recep ons for 1,915 yards two- me All-AAC honoree. and 14 TDs. He also rushed for 248 yards and three TDs on Named 2ⁿ -team All-American and was a semifi- 30 carries, returned 42 kickoff s for 813 yards and 17 punts nalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2020 after help- for 118 yards. ing lead a Bearcats defense which ranked top-15 in • Earned a Business degree from Purdue in just 2.5 years. the nation in rush defense, pass efficiency, scoring To do so, he averaged 21 hours a semester majoring in Sell- and total defense. Gave up just 11 catches for 84 ing and Sales Management. Took 27 hours during 2020 Fall yards in coverage in 2020. semester and graduated with 3.5 GPA. In final 22 games he appeared in at UC, team Won the Paul Hornung Award in both high school (best posted a 20-2 record, including a 9-0 mark in 2020. player in state of Kentucky) and college (most versa le play- Had four game-changing INTs in 2018, including an 86-yard INT return TD in er in the na on) in back-to-back years (2017 & 2018). overtime vs. SMU that gave Cincinnati its first OT win in 10 years. As a true freshman in 2018, led the FBS with 114 recep ons - bea ng out new When asked following the draft who he models his game after, replied with teammates Andy Isabella (2ⁿ with 102) and KeeSean Johnson (4 with 95). four names: Budda Baker, Tyrann Mathieu, Antrel Rolle and Ed Reed. Baker, First true freshman in Big 10 history to earn consensus All-American honors. Mathieu and Rolle were all Cardinals draft picks. MARCO WILSON - ROUND 4 (136TH) - FLORIDA MICHAL MENET - ROUND 7b (247TH) - PENN STATE • Arizona traded into the fourth-round to acquire Wilson, who started 35-of-36 games played at Florida (2017-20) Last name pronounced “MEN-et”. and recorded 103 tackles, 3 INTs, 17 passes defensed, 2.5 Following a redshirt freshman year in 2016, went tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. on to appear in 46 consecu ve games for the Nit- Showed up at Florida and became an immediate starter. tany Lions, including starts at center in each of his Joined an exclusive list of Gators who started at CB in a last 34 games. season-opener as a freshman (Joe Haden, Janoris Jen- In 2020, anchored an O-line that helped Penn State kins, Marcus Roberson). rank second in the Big Ten in total off ense (430.3 ypg). Had a record-se ng performance at Pro Day: his 43.5- Served as a team captain the last two seasons inch ver cal was 5 -best ever by a college CB and his 136- (2019-20) and was recipient of the team’s Captain inch broad jump ed for 3 -best ever by a corner. Award following his junior year in 2019. USA Today All-American at Planta on High School, where he played along- th A 5-star recruit out of Exeter Township (Rei on, PA) High School and was side fellow 2021 dra picks CB Patrick Surtain II (9 overall to Denver) and CB rd ranked as the #2 guard in the country. Selected to play in the 2016 Under Tyson Campbell (33 overall to Jacksonville). Armour All-American Game. 7 ELEVATING A FRANC HISE S UPER BO WL COMING BAC K TO AZ
The 2021 season marks the 15th since owner Valley Will Host 4th Super Bowl When Game Returns in 2023 Michael Bidwill began leading the organiza on. His leadership during that me has been instru- In June, the Na onal Football League and mental in transforming the franchise both on the Arizona Super Bowl Host Commi ee an- and off the fi eld. nounced that Super Bowl LVII will be played at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, February Highlights of Bidwill’s tenure: 12, 2023. Michael con nues a tradi on of Bidwill owner- ship of the Cardinals that dates back to his grandfa- “The selec on of the date for Super Bowl LVII ther, Hall of Famer Charles Bidwill, in 1933. means we are ge ng closer to the event all of Of the franchise’s seven all- me postseason Arizona is an cipa ng,” said David Rousseau, wins, fi ve have come with Michael leading the or- Chairman of the Arizona Super Bowl Host ganiza on. Arizona has played in nine postseason Commi ee. “The exposure and economic im- contests over the last 14 seasons, a er having ap- pact it brings to our region is unmatched and peared in just seven total playo games prior. so is the level of community support required ff to execute such a massive undertaking.” Arizona has appeared in the NFC Championship Game twice since 2008 in- cluding a victory in the 2008 conference tle game that led to the franchise’s Arizona was selected to host Super Bowl LVII in May of 2018, marking the fi rst-ever Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl XLIII). fourth me that a Super Bowl was awarded to the state. It is the third me the na on’s most popular spor ng event will be played at State Farm Stadium Among Bidwill’s most substan al accomplishments with the Cardinals is the and rst since Super Bowl XLIX following the 2014 season. crea on of State Farm Stadium. The world-class venue has proved a cri cal turn- fi ing point for the franchise, an economic engine for the state of Arizona, and most Arizona joins South Florida, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay as the recently, a crucial resource in the ba le against the COVID-19 pandemic. only sites selected to host the Super Bowl at least four mes. Since State Farm Stadium opened in 2006 it has hosted two Super Bowls (with Past Super Bowls in Arizona a third – Super Bowl LVII – set to cap the 2022 season) and the Cardinals sold out Super Bowl Site Date Result every pre-pandemic game played there. XLIX (49) State Farm Stadium Feb. 1, 2015 Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 In addi on to his role in helping Arizona land Super Bowls XLII, XLIX and LVII XLII (42) State Farm Stadium Feb. 3, 2008 Giants 17, Patriots 14 Michael was also instrumental in ge ng the 2015 Pro Bowl moved to State XXX (30) Sun Devil Stadium Jan. 28, 1996 Cowboys 27, Steelers 17 Farm Stadium; played a week before Super Bowl XLIX, the two events com- ECONOMIC IMPACT: The last me the game was staged in Arizona, it pro- bined to deliver a record economic impact of $720 million to the region. duced a record economic impact for the state. A 2015 study by the Seidman State Farm Stadium served as a cri cal site since the outbreak of the COV- Research Ins tute, W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University ID-19 pandemic in 2020. The venue hosted three blood drives at the beginning determined that Super Bowl XLIX, the 2015 Pro Bowl and related events pro- of the outbreak and in 2021 it became one of the fi rst - and most successful - duced a gross economic impact of $719.4 million for the region. That was the mass vaccina on site in the na on. largest economic impact of any special event ever held in Arizona. In addi on In January of 2018, Michael was one of fi ve owners named to the NFL’s Play- to the games played in Glendale, more than 1 million people visited Verizon er-Owner Commi ee focused on social and racial jus ce ini a ves. In Decem- Super Bowl Central in downtown Phoenix and more than 500,000 people en- ber of 2014, Commissioner Roger Goodell tapped Bidwill to chair the league’s joyed events in downtown Sco sdale. Conduct Commi ee. The commi ee reviews the league’s Personal Conduct In a span of just over 26 months in 2015-17, State Farm Stadium hosted a Policy at least annually and recommends appropriate changes with advice from Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, College Football Na onal Championship Game and the outside experts. NCAA Men’s Final Four. Cardinals Under Michael Bidwill (2007-Present) It was an unprecedented stretch for a stadium that generated $1.3 billion in Sta s c Totals Overall Record (RS + Post) 115-116-2 economic impact for the state during that 26-month span. Overall Win Pct. .498 Postseason Record 5-4 Regular Season Home Record 65-45-2 KEIM HAS BUILT SOME OF THE BEST Postseason Home Record 4-0 Overall Home Record (RS + Post) 69-45-2 Seasons with .500 Record or Be er 9 A er 14 seasons working within the Seasons with 10+ Wins 4 Cardinals personnel department, Best Regular Season Record 13-3 Steve Keim was elevated to GM on Postseason Berths 4 January 8, 2013. The teams put to- Division Titles 3 gether by Keim have been some of the Conference Championship Games 2 Super Bowl Appearances 1 most successful in franchise history. In 2014, the Cardinals ed the fran- chise record for wins in a season (11) CARDS HONOR ADELE HARRIS WITH SCHOLARSHIP before se ng a new mark in 2015 when Arizona won 13 games and earned its fi rst-ever postseason bye. In May, the Cardinals announced the creation of the “Adele Harris Scholarship” to commemorate During Keim’s tenure, Arizona has established franchise records for wins in the 50 anniversary of Harris becoming the first a season (13 in 2015), points in a season (489 in 2015), led the NFL in total of- African American female to hold a front office posi- fense for the fi rst me in team history (#1 in 2015) and led the NFL in sacks for tion in the NFL. the second me ever (48.0 in 2016). Arizona has featured a top-10 defense four mes and a top-10 off ense three Harris spent 26 years in a variety of public and com- mes da ng back to Keim’s fi rst season as GM. The Cardinals had a top-10 munity relations roles within the Cardinals organi- defense in three consecu ve seasons (2015-17) for the fi rst me since the zation before retiring in 2001. A Chicago native, she 1970 merger. In 2020, Arizona off ense ranked #6 overall a er pos ng 6,153 was raised in St. Louis and joined the Cardinals in total yards, the third-most in franchise history. 1971 as an assistant in the PR department. She left the club to pursue a degree in business manage- Selected QB Kyler Murray with the #1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Dra . ment and returned in 1978 as a publicity assistant. Murray was named the 2019 NFL Off ensive Rookie of the Year and followed up in 2020 by becoming the youngest QB in franchise history (23) to earn a By 1980, Harris became Director of Community Pro Bowl nod. Relations and was instrumental in the team’s civic efforts when it relocated to Arizona in 1988. She Among the trades nego ated by Keim during his tenure as GM are the ac- played a key role in the formation of Cardinals quisi on of QB Carson Palmer from Oakland in 2013, acquiring LB Chandler Charities, which was launched in 1990 as a vehicle to support programs designed Jones from New England in 2016, the trade that landed WR DeAndre Hopkins to improve the quality of life and enhance opportunities for children, women and from Houston in 2020 and the trade with Las Vegas to acquire OL Rodney minorities in Arizona. Adele passed away in 2007 at the age of 65. Hudson in 2021. The 2021 free agency period was one of Keim’s busiest as GM. The players The $10,000 “Adele Harris Scholarship” will be awarded annually to assist a gradu- the Cardinals acquired have a combined 20 Pro Bowl selec ons and 11 All- ating high school student in the state of Arizona who is pursuing a career in sports. Pro nods. Arizona brought in six diff erent Pro Bowlers in the off season: DL J.J. “This scholarship serves two main purposes,” said Cardinals owner Michael Bid- Wa , WR A.J. Green, OL Rodney Hudson, K Ma Prater, CB Malcolm Butler will. “It recognizes the valuable role that Adele played within our organization for and RB James Conner. more than a quarter of a century and also connects her to future generations who Named Spor ng News 2014 NFL Execu ve of the Year and earned back-to- aspire to follow in her footsteps. We are grateful for the opportunity to do both back NFL Execu ve of the Year honors from the editors of Pro Football Talk of those things.” (2013-14).
8 A TO P-10 O FFENSE IN 20 2 0 DEFENSE SHINES DESPITE HEAVY LOSSES IN 2020
For the fi rst me since 2015 - and just the third me in 12 seasons - Arizona The Cardinals suff ered heavy losses on the defensive side of the ball last season, fi nished with a top-10 off ense in 2020. The Cardinals fi nished with the NFL's including losing team captains LB Chandler Jones and DL Corey Peters for the #6 ranked off ense last season, averaging 384.6 yards per game. season and a host of other key contributors landing on injured reserve. Arizona's Defense in 2020 NFL Leaders – Total Off ense (2020) Rnk Team Yds/G 26 players started at least 1 game 1 Kansas City 415.8 18 players had at least 1.0 sack; total ranked #1 in the NFL 2t Buff alo 396.4 12 players with 2.0+ sacks; total ranked #1 in the NFL 2t Tennessee 396.4 5 players had an INT 4 Minnesota 393.3 5 players had a forced fumble 5 Green Bay 389.0 3 players had 2+ INTs 6 Arizona 384.6 7 Tampa Bay 384.1 Despite all the turnover in 2020, the unit s ll ranked among the top-15 in: 8 Las Vegas 383.3 Sta s c # Rnk 9 L.A. Chargers 382.1 Goal-to-Go TD Pct. 54.84 1 10 Indianapolis 378.1 Red Zone TD Pct. 51.79 3 Arizona also ranked #10 in total off ensive TDs scored (49) in 2020. Sacks 48 t-4 Tackles for Loss 88 t-4 2020 NFL Leaders - Off ensive TDs YEAR-TO-YEAR IMPROVEMENT Passing Yards Allowd/Play 6.36 7 Rnk Team TDs Rushing TDs Allowed 13 t-7 1 Green Bay 64 Below is a look at the Cardinals off ensive th improvement in Kingsbury's fi rst two sea- Yards Allowed/Play 5.34 8 2 Tennessee 59 sons vs. the year prior to his arrival. Off ensive TDs Allowed 39 t-8 3t New Orleans 58 QB Hits 100 9 3t Tampa Bay 58 Cardinals Off ense Last 3 Seasons Stat 2018 2019 2020 Passing Yards Allowed/Game 226.4 10 5 Buff alo 56 Points Allowed/Game 22.9 12 6t Sea le 55 W-L 3-13 5-10-1 8-8 rd th PPG 14.1 22.6 25.6 3 Down Percentage 39.6 12 6t Minnesota 55 Yards Allowed/Game 351.9 13th 8 Kansas City 53 Total YPG 241.6 341.7 384.6 9 Bal more 51 Pass YPG 157.7 217.3 244.8 INJURIES PILE UP ON DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL 10 Arizona 49 Rush YPG 83.9 124.4 139.8 Of the 10 players who ended the 2020 season on the injured reserve list, nine were defensive players. The team had 20 diff erent defenders miss a combined The Cardinals had 6,153 total net yards on off ense (3,916 passing; 2,237 100 games in '20. rushing) in 2020. That represents the third-highest total in franchise history. Defensive Players Lost To Injury in 2020 Arizona also scored 410 points in 2020, which ranks fi h in franchise history. Player Injury Gms Franchise Record – Total Yards (Net) Franchise Record - Total Points CB Robert Alford Pectoral (IR) 16 S Jalen Thompson Ankle 11 Rnk Year Yards Rnk Year Pts LB Chandler Jones Biceps (IR) 11 1 2015 6,533 1 2015 489 LB Isaiah Irving Neck (IR) 9 2 1984 6,345 2 2008 427 DL Rashard Lawrence Calf 7 3 2020 6,153 3 1984 423 DL Corey Peters Knee (IR) 7 4 2016 5,868 4 2015 418 DL Jordan Phillips Hamstring (IR) 7 5 2008 5,852 5 2020 410 DL Josh Mauro Hamstring (IR) 6 DL Leki Fotu Ankle 5 SCORING WAY UP UNDER KINGSBURY CB Kevin Peterson Concussion 4 The Cardinals scored 21+ points in 23 of 32 games in their fi rst two seasons un- CB Johnathan Joseph Neck (IR) 4 der head coach Kli Kingsbury.Arizona scored 21+ points in an NFL-low 9 games S Chris Banjo Hamstring/Covid-19 3 ff LB Kylie Fi s Hamstring/Hand (IR) 3 in the two seasons prior to his arrival (2017-18). LB Devon Kennard Calf/Covid-19 3 LB Dennis Gardeck Knee (IR) 2 Between Games 14-16 of the 2019 season through Game 10 of 2020, the S Budda Baker Thumb 1 Cardinals scored 21+ points in a franchise record 13 consecu ve games. CB Dre Kirkpatrick Thigh 1 Consecu ve Games Scoring 21+ Pts CB Byron Murphy Jr. Covid-19 1 Rnk Year(s) Gms S Deionte Thompson Covid-19 1 1 2019-20 13 S Charles Washington Groin 1 2 1983-84 11 Total 100 3t 2007-08 10 3t 1948-49 10 5 1975-76 9 PRESSURE CAME FROM EVERYWHERE
A HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE RUN GAME Despite playing the majority of the season without one of the NFL's leading sack artists in LB Chandler Jones, the Cardinals managed to finish the 2020 season with 48.0 sacks, tied with Tampa Bay for fourth in the NFL. Arizona rushed for 2,237 yards and 22 TDs on NFL Team Leaders – Sacks (2020) 479 carries (4.7 avg.) in 2020. It marked just the Rnk Team Sacks sixth me in franchise history - and fi rst me 1 Pittsburgh 56.0 since 1984 - that the Cardinals had 2,000+ 2 L.A. Rams 53.0 rushing yards and 20+ rushing TDs in a season. 3 Philadelphia 49.0 4t Arizona 48.0 Franchise History 4t Tampa Bay 48.0 Seasons w/ 2,000+ Rush Yards & 20+ Rush TDs Year Yards TDs A Avg. Arizona had an NFL-high 18 players who recorded at least 1.0 sack in 2020 and 2020 2,237 22 479 4.7 an NFL-high 12 players who recorded 2.0+ sacks. 1984 2,088 21 488 4.3 Cardinals Players w/ a Sack in 2020 1981 2,213 20 519 4.3 Player Sacks 1979 2,582 24 566 4.6 LB Haason Reddick 12.5 1949 2,130 21 467 4.6 LB Dennis Gardeck 7.0 1948 2,560 25 531 4.8 LB Devon Kennard 2.5 In addi on to having the NFL’s #6 ranked off ense, the Cardinals had the NFL’s #7 DL Angelo Blackson 2.5 ranked rushing a ack, averaging 139.8 rushing yards per game in 2020. LB Markus Golden 3.5 DL Zach Allen 2.0 NFL Leaders – Rushing Yards/Game (2020) S Budda Baker 2.0 Rnk Team Yds/Gm DL Corey Peters 2.0 1 Bal more 191.9 LB Isaiah Simmons 2.0 2 Tennessee 168.1 LB De'Vondre Campbell 2.0 3 Cleveland 148.4 CB Byron Murphy 2.0 4 New England 146.6 DL Jordan Phillips 2.0 5 Minnesota 142.7 LB Josh Mauro 1.0 6 New Orleans 141.6 LB Chandler Jones 1.0 7 Arizona 139.8 DL Michael Dogbe 1.0 8 Green Bay 132.4 DL Trevon Coley 1.0 9 Philadelphia 126.7 DL Leki Fotu 1.0 10 L.A. Rams 126.1 LB Tanner Vallejo 1.0 9 KYLER MURRAY - AT A G LANCE HISTO RY MADE IN 1ST TWO SEASO NS