The Unbelievable Truth: Is The Arizona Cardinals The Oldest NFL Team? (Hint: It’s Complicated)
The question of the "oldest NFL team" is one of the most hotly debated topics in American sports history, with a surprising answer that goes back to the 19th century. As of today, December 19, 2025, the undisputed oldest professional football franchise in the National Football League is the Arizona Cardinals, whose roots stretch back to 1898, predating the formal establishment of the league itself. However, the complex history of the Cardinals’ name changes and city moves makes the claim a nuanced one, often leading to arguments for the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers as the oldest teams in continuous operation in their original cities.
The distinction lies between the oldest *franchise* (the continuous legal entity) and the oldest team operating *in the same location* since its inception. The Cardinals hold the former title, having been established 22 years before the formation of the American Professional Football Association (APFA)—the league that would become the NFL. Diving into the Cardinals' incredible journey from a neighborhood club in Chicago to a modern NFL powerhouse reveals a deep history few other teams can match.
The Oldest Franchise: A Historical Biography of the Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals franchise boasts a lineage that began before the turn of the 20th century, making it the longest-running professional football club in the United States. Its history is a fascinating saga of name changes, city relocations, and enduring family ownership.
- Original Founding: 1898 (as the Morgan Athletic Club)
- Founder: Chris O'Brien, a painting and decorating contractor in Chicago.
- Original Location: Chicago, Illinois (South Side of Chicago).
- Nickname Origin: In 1901, O'Brien purchased used, faded maroon jerseys from the University of Chicago Maroons football team. He declared the color was not maroon, but "Cardinal Red," thus giving the team its enduring nickname.
- Early Name: Racine Cardinals (named after Racine Avenue in Chicago, not the city of Racine, Wisconsin).
- Joined APFA/NFL: 1920 (as a charter member of the American Professional Football Association, which became the NFL in 1922).
- Chicago Cardinals Era: 1920–1959.
- St. Louis Cardinals Era: 1960–1987 (Moved to St. Louis, Missouri).
- Phoenix Cardinals Era: 1988–1993 (Moved to Tempe, Arizona, playing in Sun Devil Stadium).
- Arizona Cardinals Era: 1994–Present (Name changed to represent the entire state of Arizona).
- Key Ownership History:
- Chris O'Brien: 1898–1929.
- Dr. David Jones: 1929–1932.
- Charles W. Bidwill: 1932–1947 (Purchased the team for $50,000, beginning the continuous Bidwill family ownership).
- Violet Bidwill Wolfner: 1947–1962.
- Bill Bidwill (William V. Bidwill): 1962–2019.
- Michael Bidwill: 2019–Present (Current principal owner and president).
The Great NFL Origin Debate: Cardinals vs. Bears vs. Packers
While the Cardinals are the oldest *franchise*, the conversation about the "oldest NFL team" often includes the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers due to two key historical distinctions: the APFA charter membership and continuous operation in one city.
The Two Remaining APFA Charter Members
The American Professional Football Association (APFA) was officially formed in 1920 at a meeting in Canton, Ohio. Of the 14 original teams, only two have maintained continuous operation in the league, making them the true "charter members" still playing in the modern NFL: the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears.
- Arizona Cardinals: Joined the APFA in 1920 as the Chicago Cardinals (originally the Racine Cardinals). Their claim to the oldest title is based on their 1898 founding date as the Morgan Athletic Club.
- Chicago Bears: Joined the APFA in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys, founded in 1919 by A. E. Staley, a starch manufacturer. George Halas purchased the team in 1921 and moved them to Chicago, renaming them the Chicago Staleys, and then the Chicago Bears in 1922. Because they were founded in 1919, their organizational history is nearly as old as the Cardinals, and they share the APFA charter member status.
The Cardinals and Bears actually hold the distinction of the NFL’s oldest rivalry, having played each other in the APFA's first season in 1920.
The Oldest Team in Continuous Operation in One Location
This is where the Green Bay Packers enter the conversation and often claim a different kind of longevity. While the Cardinals and Bears are the oldest *franchises*, they both began in Chicago and the Cardinals moved twice (to St. Louis and then Arizona). The Bears moved from Decatur to Chicago.
- Green Bay Packers: Founded in 1919 by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, the Packers joined the NFL (then APFA) in 1921.
- The Packers' Unique Claim: The Packers have played continuously in Green Bay, Wisconsin, since their inception. This makes them the longest-tenured team to remain in its original city. Their name, a nod to the Indian Packing Company that helped fund the team, is a testament to their deep local roots and community ownership model, which is unique in the league.
Therefore, to answer the initial curiosity: The Arizona Cardinals are the oldest professional football franchise (1898). The Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals are the only remaining APFA charter members (1920). The Green Bay Packers are the oldest team in continuous operation in its original city (1919/1921).
The Legacy of the NFL’s Founding Franchises
The history of these three foundational teams—the Cardinals, Bears, and Packers—is essentially the history of the National Football League. Their enduring presence provides a direct link to the league's humble beginnings in the early 20th century, a time when professional football was an unstable, regional sport.
The APFA and the Birth of the NFL
The formation of the APFA in 1920 was a crucial step in professionalizing the game. Before this, teams like the Morgan Athletic Club operated more like independent clubs. The APFA established standardized rules, a schedule, and most importantly, a framework for a national league. The name change to the National Football League (NFL) in 1922 solidified this transformation. Entities like the Canton Bulldogs, Buffalo All-Americans, and Akron Pros were among the initial members, but only the Cardinals and Bears survived the league's tumultuous first decade.
Historical Entities and Topical Authority
The stories of these teams are rich with historical entities that define the sport: George Halas, known as the "Father of the NFL," founded the Chicago Bears franchise and helped shape the league. The Bidwill family's continuous, nearly century-long ownership of the Cardinals provides a rare link to the league's past. The Packers' community ownership model, with its unique stock structure, is a historical anomaly that has preserved the team's small-town identity against the backdrop of massive modern sports corporations. The earliest days of the league saw the very first professional football contract, the first championship game, and the foundation of the iconic rivalries that still dominate the sport today, such as the Bears-Packers rivalry, which is arguably the most storied in NFL history.
These foundational franchises are not just old; they are the bedrock upon which the entire structure of the modern NFL was built. Their longevity, despite economic depressions, world wars, and the constant threat of rival leagues, serves as a powerful testament to the enduring appeal of American football.
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