After owner Bill Bidwell's demands for a new stadium preferably domed were ignored, and years of dwindling attendance in the city of St. Louis, the Cards were on the move again.

After considering Baltimore, and Jacksonville Bill Bidwell, decided the Cardinals future was best served in the Arizona desert, as he elected to move the team to Phoenix. On March 15th NFL owners reluctantly, but overwhelmingly approved the move.

Bidwell, who had lost 100 lbs and plenty of money since announcing his plans to relocate a year earlier, tearfully described his feelings as "mixed up," as the Cardinals landed in their new nest Phoenix, Arizona. After a 21-14 loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati on September 4th the Cardinals prepared for the first home game in the desert.

On September 12th a franchise record crowd of 67,139 showed up to watch a Monday Night match up with the Dallas Cowboys. The new fans would wind up going home disappointed as Dallas beat Phoenix 17-14.

The Cardinals first win in Phoenix would come 13 days later against the Washington Redskins, as the Cardinals won 7 of 9 after a 0-2 start to stand at 7-4 and in a first place tie. However, the Cards would go on one of their traditional nosedives, and would lose heir final five games to finish at 7-9.