From Racine to the Windy City: Unearthing the History of the NFL’s Oldest Rivalry: Bears vs. Cardinals
The echoes of leather helmets and gridiron battles resonate through NFL history, and at the heart of it all lies the storied rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals. This isn’t just another rivalry; it’s the oldest in the league, a testament to the enduring legacy of two franchises that helped shape professional football. With 94 games played, the Bears hold a 58-30-6 advantage. But the numbers only tell a fraction of the tale.
The Genesis: Racine and the Birth of a League
To truly understand this rivalry, we must journey back to the league’s humble beginnings. In 1898, Chris O’Brien established the Morgan Athletic Club, an amateur football team based in Chicago. This team would later be known as the Racine Normals, named after Racine Avenue where they played. In 1901, O’Brien acquired used jerseys from the University of Chicago, their cardinal red color leading to the team’s eventual name: the Racine Street Cardinals.
Meanwhile, in Decatur, Illinois, the Staley Starch Company formed a football team in 1920. Led by player-coach George Halas, the Decatur Staleys joined the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which would later become the NFL. The Racine Cardinals joined the APFA as well, setting the stage for the league’s first rivalry.
Chicago Cardinals vs. Decatur Staleys: The Early Years
The Cardinals and the Staleys played each other twice in 1920, splitting the series. In 1921, Halas was given the team by the Staley Starch Company, along with $5,000, and permission to move the team to Chicago, so long as he kept the Staleys name for a year. In 1922, Halas changed the team’s name to the Chicago Bears.
The Bears and Cardinals quickly became fierce competitors. From 1920 to 1925, the teams battled to a 4-4-2 split. These early clashes had a direct impact on the league championship four times. Both teams were among the few that had African-American players in the 1920s, with the Cardinals signing Duke Slater and Harold Bradley, Sr., the first two black lineman in the NFL.
The Controversial 1925 Championship
The 1925 season remains one of the most controversial in NFL history. The Chicago Cardinals finished with an 11-2-1 record. The Pottsville Maroons defeated the Cardinals, but the Cardinals scheduled two hastily arranged games against weaker teams to improve their record. The NFL ultimately sided with the Maroons, but a scheduling conflict prevented them from playing for the title, and the Cardinals were awarded their first NFL championship.
Bears Dominance and a Change of Scenery
From 1926 to 1946, the Bears dominated the series, going 33-6-4. The Cardinals experienced limited success, with the exception of their 1947 NFL Championship victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1960, the Cardinals moved to St. Louis, Missouri, marking a significant shift in the rivalry’s landscape.
The St. Louis Years and a Fading Flame
Despite the relocation, some Chicago Cardinals fans couldn’t bring themselves to cheer for the Bears. The rivalry began to wane after the Cardinals’ move to St. Louis. The two teams met only eleven times during the Cardinals’ tenure in St. Louis.
A Desert Homecoming: The Arizona Cardinals
In 1988, the Cardinals moved to Phoenix, Arizona, becoming the Phoenix Cardinals. In 1994, the team was renamed the Arizona Cardinals. Despite the change in scenery, the rivalry with the Bears remained a part of NFL history.
Memorable Moments and Modern Matchups
While the intensity of the early years may have faded, the Bears-Cardinals rivalry has still produced memorable moments. One of the biggest moments in recent memory was the 1986 preseason brawl between the Bears and the Cardinals.
The most memorable game of the rivalry took place on Monday Night Football during the 2006 season. The then-undefeated Bears trailed the 1-4 Cardinals by 20 points at halftime. However, the Bears mounted a comeback, overcoming Rex Grossman’s poor performance to win 24-23.
The Legacy Continues
The Bears and Cardinals represent the enduring spirit of the NFL. Their rivalry, born in the league’s infancy, has witnessed the evolution of the game. While the Bears have historically dominated the series, the Cardinals have proven to be a resilient franchise. As the two teams continue to write their stories, the echoes of Racine and the Windy City will forever bind them together in NFL lore.