# Bears–Cardinals rivalry

The Bears–Cardinals rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals.
It is the oldest rivalry in the NFL and features the only two remaining teams from the league's inception in 1920. At that time, the Bears were known as the Decatur Staleys, and the Cardinals were the Racine Cardinals. (Though they were known as the "Racine" Cardinals, the Cardinals were based in Chicago, on Racine Street. In 1921, the Staleys moved to Chicago, and the matchup between the teams became known as "The Battle of Chicago" for 38 years, making it the first true rivalry in the league's history.
The rivalry diminished after the 1959 NFL season, when the Cardinals relocated to St. Louis. After the re-location, the NFL treated the Cardinals and Bears like any other inter-divisional pairing for scheduling purposes, resulting in the teams playing much less frequently. With the completion of the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the enlarged NFL seriously considered (in addition to at least four other possible solutions) an alignment for the new National Football Conference that would have placed the Cardinals and Bears in the same division. Ultimately, this alignment was not chosen, and instead the Bears were placed in the NFC Central and the Cardinals in the NFC East. When the Cardinals moved to Arizona in 1988, the rivalry was further diminished.
The Bears lead the overall series, 60–30–6. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

## History
### The first meeting

The Decatur Staleys and Racine Cardinals met for the first time on November 28, 1920 at Normal Park. Around 5,000 fans showed up to watch the Cardinals defeat the Staleys, 7–6. The loss was the only blemish in the Staleys record that season (ties were disregarded), and cost them the first American Professional Football Association title.

### Grange's debut and 0–0 games

Shortly after finishing his college career at the University of Illinois, Red Grange made his NFL debut with the Bears on Thanksgiving against the Cardinals in 1925. Around 36,000 fans showed up at Cubs Park to see the Bears tie the Cardinals 0–0. In fact, this was one of 17 consecutive games after their first meeting which ended in a shutout for either or both teams, with four 0–0 scores. The Cardinals would win their first (and highly disputed) of two NFL championships that season.

### The Ernie Nevers Game

The Cardinals' Ernie Nevers scored a still-standing NFL record of 40 points in a single game, doing so with six touchdowns and four extra points. Nevers scored all of the points in the Cardinals' 40–6 victory over the Bears on November 28, 1929. It was also the first game between the two teams since their inaugural game that did not end in a shutout.

### Pat Coffee's 97-yard touchdown

The Cardinals' 42–28 loss to the Bears at Wrigley Field in 1937 was mostly remembered for Pat Coffee's then-record 97-yard touchdown pass to Gaynell Tinsley, one of ten combined touchdown passes in the game.

### 1950s: Realignment and the last decade of the local rivalry

The Cardinals won their second (and most recent) NFL championship in 1947. After the 1949 NFL season, owners agreed to absorb the remnants of the All-America Football Conference. As part of this process, the enlarged league adopted a division alignment ostensibly to be based less on geography, in part with a view of ensuring all NFL franchises would have equal exposure in the two-team cities of New York and Chicago. The divisions were re-branded "American" (East) and "National" (West) with the Cardinals making the move to the American Division.
Despite being in separate divisions, the Chicago teams nevertheless continued to play each other twice per year until 1953, when the divisions reverted to their traditional "Eastern" and "Western" names and the "Battle of Chicago" was reduced to a once-per-year affair.
By this time, the Cardinals were struggling on the field and at the gate. Nevertheless, in the 13 meetings between the Bears and Cardinals during the decade, the Bears only won seven of them. The Cardinals' last victory as a Chicago team over the Bears was a memorable one, as they won 53–14 at Comiskey Park in 1955 behind Ollie Matson's two touchdowns, including a 77-yard punt return. The Bears finished with a 47–19–6 all-time record against the Chicago Cardinals.
Even after moving to St. Louis and then much further west to Arizona, the Cardinals remained an "Eastern" team. It was not until the major realignment of prior to the 2002 NFL season (the Cardinals' fifteenth season in Arizona) that they finally became members of the NFC West.

### 1960–1987: Chicago vs. St. Louis

In the 1960 season, the Cardinals moved to St. Louis, with the Bears helping facilitate the move by paying $500,000 as "moving expenses", as they were now the sole owners of the expanding TV rights in Chicago (they would later start using the "Wishbone-C" in their logo, which the Cardinals used since the 1920's, and was first used in 1898 by the University of Chicago football team). The Cardinals successfully kept its the team name despite the existence of the baseball Cardinals in the city. Coincidentally, both Cardinals franchises shared the same building during the football Cardinals' 28 seasons in St. Louis: Busch Stadium I from 1960 to 1965, and Busch Memorial Stadium from 1966 to 1987.
The two teams met only eleven times during the Cardinals' tenure in St. Louis, with the Cardinals amassing a 6–5 record. The Bears never played at Busch Stadium I. In the teams' first-ever meeting in St. Louis during the 1966 season, Cardinal defensive back Larry Wilson intercepted three passes, including a game-winning pick-six in St. Louis' 24–17 victory. Despite the Cardinals' success in St. Louis against the Bears, they only made four playoff appearances, and would once again be on the move after the 1987 season. The last-ever meeting between the Bears and St. Louis Cardinals came in the 1984 season, a game which saw Neil Lomax gash Buddy Ryan's 46 defense for six completions and 166 yards to Roy Green, and Ottis Anderson score two touchdowns in the Cardinals' 38–21 victory.

### 1988–present: Chicago vs. Phoenix/Arizona

The Cardinals moved further west to the Phoenix metropolitan area in 1988, becoming the Phoenix Cardinals. They then changed their name to the Arizona Cardinals in the 1994 season. As of 2021, the Bears won seven of 11 meetings with the Arizona Cardinals, but to this day, the teams have yet to face each other in the NFL playoffs.

### The Dennis Green Game

The most memorable game of the rivalry took place on Monday Night Football during the 2006 season. The then-undefeated Bears (5–0 heading into the game) trailed the 1–4 Cardinals by 20 points at halftime. The Cardinals also held Bears quarterback Rex Grossman at just 14 completions in 37 passing attempts for 144 yards passing while getting six turnovers from the Bears quarterback as Grossman threw four interceptions and fumbled the ball twice and had a quarterback rating of 10.2 at the end of the game. However, the Cardinals still didn't win the game. At the end of the third quarter, Bears edge rusher Mark Anderson fumbled the ball out of Matt Leinart's hand and was recovered by Mike Brown for a touchdown and the Bears trailed 23–10 heading into the fourth quarter. However, Bears cornerback Charles Tillman returned a fumble by Edgerrin James that was forced out by Brian Urlacher 40 yards for a touchdown, and returner Devin Hester gave the Bears the lead with a 83-yard punt return touchdown. However, the Cardinals still had a chance to win. Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart attempted a comeback drive where he drove the Cardinals from their own 38 to the Bears 23 yard line. They had a shot to win but kicker Neil Rackers missed a 40 yard field goal with 52 seconds left to secure the Bears comeback victory. The final score was 24–23 Bears. After the loss, Cardinals head coach Dennis Green made a memorable post-game rant with the media, screaming "The Bears are what we thought they were. They're what we thought they were. We played them in preseason—who the hell takes a third game of the preseason like it's bullshit? Bullshit! We played them in the third game—everybody played three quarters—the Bears are who we thought they were! That's why we took the damn field. Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But they (the Bears) are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!" The game made NFL Top 10 Meltdowns where it landed at #7 on the list and also made Top 10 Greatest Comebacks landing at #6.

## Season-by-season results

Decatur Staleys/Chicago Staleys/Chicago Bears vs. Racine/Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals Season-by-Season Results :
1920s (Bears, 9–6–4)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1920
Cardinals 7–6
Normal Field
Cardinals 1–0
The APFA's first season. First meeting at Normal Field.
Staleys 10–0
Cubs Field
Tied 1–1
First meeting at Cubs Field.
1921
Tie 0–0
Cubs Field
Tie 1–1–1
First home game of the matchup for the Staleys. First matchup with the Staleys as a Chicago-based team, and the match tied for the lowest-scoring matchup in league history. Staleys win 1921 APFA Championship
1922
Cardinals 6–0
Comiskey Park
Cardinals 2–1–1
The APFA renames itself as the National Football League (NFL). The Cardinals' first season is called "Chicago." "Staleys" rename themselves as the "Bears." The first game in Comiskey Park. Thanksgiving Day game.
Cardinals 9–0
Comiskey Park
Cardinals 3–1–1
1923
Bears 3–0
Cubs Field
Cardinals 3–2–1
Thanksgiving Day game.
1924
Bears 6–0
Cubs Park
Tie 3–3–1
Bears 21–0
Comiskey Park
Bears 4–3–1
Thanksgiving Day game. Bears take the lead in the rivalry
1925
Cardinals 9–0
Comiskey Park
Tie 4–4–1
Tie 0–0
Cubs Park
Tie 4–4–2
Thanksgiving Day game. Cardinals win 1925 NFL Championship.
1926
Bears 16–0
Cubs Park
Bears 5–4–2
Bears 10–0
Soldier Field
Bears 6–4–2
First game at Soldier Field
Tie 0–0
Cubs Park
Bears 6–4–3
Thanksgiving Day game.
1927
Bears 9–0
Normal Park
Bears 7–4–3
Cardinals 3–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 7–5–3
Cubs Field is renamed Wrigley Field. Thanksgiving Day game.
1928
Bears 15–0
Normal Park
Bears 8–5–3
Final game at Normal Field
Bears 34–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 9–5–3
Thanksgiving Day game.
1929
Tie 0–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 9–5–4
Cardinals 34–0
Comiskey Park
Bears 9–6–4
Thanksgiving Day game. :
1930s (Bears, 17–1–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1930
Bears 32–6
Comiskey Park
Bears 10–6–4
Bears 6–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 11–6–4
Thanksgiving Day game.
1931
Bears 26–13
Wrigley Field
Bears 12–6–4
Cardinals' first home game at Wrigley Field
Bears 18–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 13–6–4
Thanksgiving Day game.
1932
Tie 0–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 13–6–5
Bears 34–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 14–6–5
Thanksgiving Day game. Bears win 1932 NFL Championship
1933
Bears 12–9
Wrigley Field
Bears 15–6–5
Bears 22–6
Wrigley Field
Bears 16–6–5
Final Thanksgiving Day game to date for the matchup. Bears win 1933 NFL Championship.
1934
Bears 20–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 17–6–5
Bears 17–6
Wrigley Field
Bears 18–6–5
Bears lose 1934 NFL Championship.
1935
Tie 7–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 18–6–6
Latest tied game in the matchup
Bears 13–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 19–6–6
1936
Bears 7–3
Wrigley Field
Bears 20–6–6
Cardinals 14–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 20–7–6
1937
Bears 16–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 21–7–6
Bears 42–28
Wrigley Field
Bears 22–7–6
Bears lose 1937 NFL Championship.
1938
Bears 16–13
Wrigley Field
Bears 23–7–6
Bears 34–28
Wrigley Field
Bears 24–7–6
1939
Bears 44–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 25–7–6
Bears 48–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 26–7–6 :
1940s (Bears, 14–6)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1940
Cardinals 21–7
Comiskey Park
Bears 26–8–6
First season back at Comiskey Park for the Cardinals, Wednesday game
Bears 31–23
Wrigley Field
Bears 27–8–6
Bears win 1940 NFL Championship.
1941
Bears 53–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 28–8–6
Bears 34–24
Comiskey Park
Bears 29–8–6
Bears win 1941 NFL Championship.
1942
Bears 41–14
Wrigley Field
Bears 30–8–6
Bears 21–7
Comiskey Park
Bears 31–8–6
The Bears go 11-0 in the regular season. Bears lose 1942 NFL Championship.
1943
Bears 20–0
Wrigley Field
Bears 32–8–6
Bears 35–24
Comiskey Park
Bears 33–8–6
Bears win 1943 NFL Championship.
1944
Bears 34–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 34–8–6
Cardinals temporarily merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the season and was known as "Card-Pitt"
Bears 49–7
Forbes Field
Bears 35–8–6
Only matchup at Forbes Field
1945
Cardinals 16–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 35–9–6
Bears 28–20
Comiskey Park
Bears 36–9–6
1946
Bears 34–17
Comiskey Park
Bears 37–9–6
Cardinals 35–28
Wrigley Field
Bears 37–10–6
Bears win 1946 NFL Championship.
1947
Cardinals 31–7
Comiskey Park
Bears 37–11–6
Cardinals 30–21
Wrigley Field
Bears 37–12–6
Cardinals win 1947 NFL Championship.
1948
Bears 28–17
Comiskey Park
Bears 38–12–6
Monday night game.
Cardinals 24–21
Wrigley Field
Bears 38–13–6
Cardinals lose 1948 NFL Championship.
1949
Bears 17–7
Comiskey Park
Bears 39–13–6
Bears 52–21
Wrigley Field
Bears 40–13–6
Final matchup as a Western Division rival. :
1950s (Bears, 7–6)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1950
Bears 27–6
Wrigley Field
Bears 41–13–6
Cardinals 20–10
Comiskey Park
Bears 41–14–6
1951
Cardinals 16–7
Comiskey Park
Bears 41–15–6
Cardinals 28–20
Wrigley Field
Bears 41–16–6
1952
Cardinals 21–10
Comiskey Park
Bears 41–17–6
Bears 10–7
Wrigley Field
Bears 42–17–6
1953
Cardinals 24–17
Wrigley Field
Bears 42–18–6
1954
Bears 29–7
Comiskey Park
Bears 43–18–6
1955
Cardinals 53–14
Comiskey Park
Bears 43–19–6
1956
Bears 10–3
Wrigley Field
Bears 44–19–6
Bears lose 1956 NFL Championship.
1957
Bears 14–6
Comiskey Park
Bears 45–19–6
1958
Bears 30–14
Wrigley Field
Bears 46–19–6
1959
Bears 31–7
Comiskey Park
Bears 47–19–6
The Cardinals play their final game in the matchup as a Chicago-based franchise. :
1960s (Tie, 2–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1965
Bears 34–13
Wrigley Field
Bears 48–19–6
First matchup as a Chicago-St. Louis rivalry.
1966
Cardinals 24–17
Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium
Bears 48–20–6
The first game of the matchup is in St. Louis.
1967
Bears 30–3
Wrigley Field
Bears 49–20–6
Final game of the matchup at Wrigley Field
1969
Cardinals 20–17
Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium
Bears 49–21–6
Final matchup before the NFL-AFL merger :
1970s (Bears, 3–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1972
Bears 27–10
Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium
Bears 50–21–6
1975
Cardinals 34–20
Soldier Field
Bears 50–22–6
1977
Cardinals 16–13
Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium
Bears 50–23–6
1978
Bears 17–10
Soldier Field
Bears 51–23–6
1979
Bears 42–6
Soldier Field
Bears 52–23–6 :
1980s (Cardinals, 2–0)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1982
Cardinals 10–7
Soldier Field
Bears 52–24–6
1984
Cardinals 38–21
Busch Memorial Stadium
Bears 52–25–6
Final matchup as a Chicago-St. Louis rivalry :
1990s (Bears, 2–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1990
Bears 31–21
Sun Devil Stadium
Bears 53–25–6
First time in the matchup where the Cardinals are a Phoenix-based franchise. First matchup at Sun Devil Stadium.
1994
Bears 19–16
Sun Devil Stadium
Bears 54–25–6
1998
Cardinals 20–7
Sun Devil Stadium
Bears 54–26–6
Final time in the matchup at Sun Devil Stadium. :
2000s (Bears, 3–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2001
Bears 20–13
Soldier Field
Bears 55–26–6
2003
Bears 28–3
Soldier Field
Bears 56–26–6
2006
Bears 24–23
University of Phoenix Stadium
Bears 57–26–6
First game in the matchup at University of Phoenix Stadium. Bears overcome 20-point deficit. This led to Dennis Green's infamous post-game quote, "The Bears are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook." Bears lose Super Bowl XLI.
2009
Cardinals 41–21
Soldier Field
Bears 57–27–6 :
2010s (Bears, 2–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2012
Bears 28–13
University of Phoenix Stadium
Bears 58–27–6
2015
Cardinals 48–23
Soldier Field
Bears 58–28–6
2018
Bears 16–14
State Farm Stadium
Bears 59–28–6
Cardinals turn the ball over four consecutive possessions in the second half as Bears comeback from a 14–3 halftime deficit. :
2020s (Cardinals, 2–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2021
Cardinals 33–22
Soldier Field
Bears 59–29–6
2023
Bears 27–16
Soldier Field
Bears 60–29–6
2024
Cardinals 29–9
State Farm Stadium
Bears 60–30–6 :
Summary of Results
SeasonSeason seriesat Decatur Staleys/Chicago Staleys/Chicago Bearsat Racine/Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona CardinalsNotes
Regular season
Bears 60–30–6
Bears 32–13–5
Bears 28–17–1 :

## Players who played for both teams

| Name | Pos. | Years with Bears | Years with Cardinals |
| Jeff Blake | QB | 2005 | 2003 |
| Kevin Butler | K | 1985–1995 | 1996–1997 |
| Guy Chamberlin | End | 1920–1921 | 1927 |
| Chris Chandler | QB | 2002–2003 | 1991–1993 |
| Marcus Cooper | CB | 2017–2018 | 2016 |
| Dave Duerson | S | 1983–1989 | 1991–1993 |
| Ted Ginn Jr. | WR | 2020 | 2014 |
| Mike Glennon | QB | 2017 | 2018 |
| Brian Hoyer | QB | 2016 | 2012 |
| Thomas Jones | RB | 2004–2006 | 2000–2002 |
| Walt Kiesling | G | 1934 | 1929–1933 |
| Dave Krieg | QB | 1996 | 1995 |
| Cassius Marsh | LB | 2021 | 2019 |
| Wilber Marshall | LB | 1984–1987 | 1994 |
| Josh McCown | QB | 2011–2013 | 2002–2005 |
| Jim McMahon | QB | 1982–1988 | 1994 |
| Mike Nugent | K | 2017 | 2009, 2020 |
| Ricky Proehl | WR | 1997 | 1990–1994 |
| Antrel Rolle | CB | 2015 | 2005–2009 |
| Chester Taylor | RB | 2010 | 2011 |
| Javon Wims | WR | 2018–2020 | 2022 |