Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The Cardinals last season in Chicago, before moving to St. Louis, was 1959. Pete Rozell pushed the move to get more television exposure in Chicago. The Cardinals moved to Soldier Field for their last season playing in Comiskey Park in previous years. Their record was 2-10. Their two victories, both at home, showed a great offense. The week 10 game, with their intercity rival, was their last game in Chicago on their home turf. If memory serves, the Cardinals moved from Comiskey Park to Soldier Field in 1959

Week 1 Washington Redskins
Quarterbacks King Hill and M.C. Reynolds completed 17 of 28 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns. The Cardinals also put up 250 yards rushing. Bobby Joe Conrad had a great running day carrying 11 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Turnovers are always a big factor and this game was no exception-the Cardinals recovered four fumbles . Chicago Cardinals 49 Washington Redskins 21.

Week 6 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals were 1-4 to Pittsburgh’s 2-3
The Cardinals intercepted three passes and recovered three fumbles. They gained 266 yards on the ground but almost nothing passing. King Hill bootlegged for a 27 yard touchdown run. Chicago returned two punts for touchdowns-Bill Stacy for 59 yards and Ken Hall for 84 yards. Chicago Cardinals 45 Pittsburgh Steelers 24

Week 10 Chicago Bears The Cardinals were 2-7 to the Bears 5-4.
What do you think of a team having seven turnovers? Bears 31 Cardinals 7.

Pete Rozelle should have forced the Wolfners to sell the club. I am sure the other owners would have agreed. Had they allowed Lamar Hunt to buy them, there might not have even been an AFL.

My understanding of why the Cardinals did not move earlier is that the other NFL owners wanted a hefty relocation fee from the Cardinals to allow them into these other markets. Once the AFL came in things changed, and the move to St. Louis was quickly approved.