Football Daily

Joe Ziemba is the award-winning author of the book "When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL," "Cadets, Cannons and Legends: The Football History of Morgan Park Military Academy," and "Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry. He is also the host of the Award Winning Podcast When Football was Football, found on the Sports History Network.

The Arizona Cardinals, known for their scorching desert home, boast a rich history that began far from the cactus needles. Their roots trace back to 1898 in Chicago, Illinois, where they started as the amateur Morgan Athletic Club. Soon after, a shipment of faded maroon jerseys, nicknamed "Cardinal red," gave birth to their iconic moniker – the Chicago Cardinals.

The Cardinals became a founding member of the league that evolved into the National Football League (NFL) in 1920. They tasted early success, capturing the 1925 NFL championship. However, the following decades were a mixed bag. While they secured another championship in 1947 with their explosive "Dream Backfield," consistent success proved elusive. The shadow of the more popular Chicago Bears loomed large, making fan support a challenge.

Financial struggles in the late 1950s ultimately led to a move in 1960. St. Louis became their new home, where they remained for nearly three decades. Despite flashes of brilliance, including division titles in the 1970s, a championship remained out of reach.

In 1988, the Cardinals migrated once again, this time settling in Phoenix, Arizona. While they haven't yet replicated their early Chicago glory, they've experienced periods of strong play, reaching the Super Bowl in 2009. The franchise holds a unique distinction: the longest active championship drought in American professional sports, dating back to 1947.

Despite the lack of recent titles, the Cardinals' legacy is undeniable. They are the oldest continuously operating NFL franchise, carrying with them a rich history that began on the streets of Chicago. Their journey across cities reflects the evolution of professional football itself, reminding us of the changing landscape of the sport we love.

Joe Ziemba joins us to tell the origin story of the Chicago Cardinals.

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The Chicago Rockets and their AAFC Team Story as told by historian Joe Ziemba

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Joe Ziemba, the foremost expert on Chicago Cardinals history goes all in on telling a story. When he gets a chance to chat about the memories of one of the Cardinals greats like Charley Trippi, this story teller shifts to a different gear.
Joe shares in this episode the story of the NFL and other pro teams that competed for the right to ink Trippi to a professional contract. It involves some of the biggest names in football at the time and is truly a podcast worth listening in on.

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The early and complete history of the Chicago Cardinals franchise. Ziemba Written Book

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The Morgan Park Academy is special to Chicago football as so many people have been associated with the program, including the author's father who coached there for many years. Ziemba Written Book

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Joe Ziemba, the author of numerous books, including the famous When Football was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL, gives a foreshadow of his upcoming novel Bears versus Cardinals: The NFLs Oldest Rivalry. Joe is the host of the When Football was Football Podcast and has an earlier written book of the same name, among various other works. Ziemba Written Book