1972 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season

1972 St. Louis Cardinals season
OwnerBill Bidwill
Head coachBob Hollway
Home fieldBusch Memorial Stadium
Results
Record4–9–1
Division place4th NFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone

The 1972 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 53rd year with the National Football League and thirteenth in St. Louis. On September 2, Bill Bidwill purchased the stock of his brother Charles "Stormy" Bidwill to become sole owner of the Cardinals.[1][2] The adopted sons of Charles and Violet Bidwill,[3][4] the two had co-owned the team since their mother's death in January 1962.[5]

After starting at 2–2, with wins over 1970 and 1971 playoff participants Baltimore and Minnesota, the Cardinals went 0–7–1, then won their final two games over the Rams and Eagles to finish at 4–9–1 for the second consecutive season and third time in the past four.

Second-year head coach Bob Hollway was fired on December 18,[6] the day after the regular season finale, and succeeded a month later by San Diego State head coach Don Coryell.[7][8]

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1972 NFL draft
Round Overall Player Position School/Club Team
1 4 Bobby Moore (Ahmad Rashad) Wide receiver Oregon
5 110 Conrad Dobler Guard Wyoming

Roster

1972 St. Louis Cardinals roster
Quarterbacks


Running backs


Wide receivers


Tight ends

Offensive linemen


Defensive linemen


Linebackers


Defensive backs


Special teams

Reserve lists

Practice squad

rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 17 at Baltimore Colts W 10–3 1–0 Memorial Stadium 53,652
2 September 24 at Washington Redskins L 10–24 1–1 RFK Stadium 53,039
3 October 1 Pittsburgh Steelers L 19–25 1–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 49,140
4 October 8 at Minnesota Vikings W 19–17 2–2 Metropolitan Stadium 49,687
5 October 15 Washington Redskins L 3–33 2–3 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,454
6 October 22 at New York Giants L 21–27 2–4 Yankee Stadium 62,756
7 October 29 Chicago Bears L 10–27 2–5 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,464
8 November 5 at Philadelphia Eagles T 6–6 2–5–1 Veterans Stadium 65,720
9 November 12 at Dallas Cowboys L 24–33 2–6–1 Texas Stadium 65,218
10 November 19 New York Giants L 7–13 2–7–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 48,014
11 November 27 at Miami Dolphins L 10–31 2–8–1 Miami Orange Bowl 80,010
12 December 3 Dallas Cowboys L 6–27 2–9–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 49,787
13 December 10 Los Angeles Rams W 24–14 3–9–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 36,873
14 December 17 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–23 4–9–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 34,872
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Washington Redskins 11 3 0 .786 7–1 10–1 336 218 L2
Dallas Cowboys 10 4 0 .714 6–2 7–4 319 240 L1
New York Giants 8 6 0 .571 5–3 7–4 331 247 W1
St. Louis Cardinals 4 9 1 .321 1–6–1 3–7–1 193 303 W2
Philadelphia Eagles 2 11 1 .179 0–7–1 0–10–1 145 352 L5

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ "Bill Bidwill sole owner of Cards". Southeast Missorian. Cape Girardeau. Associated Press. September 12, 1972. p. 8.
  2. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p.283
  3. ^ Howard, Robert (February 2, 1963). "Court rules for Bidwills". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 4.
  4. ^ "High court rules in favor of sons". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. February 2, 1963. p. 2, part 2.
  5. ^ "Mrs. Wolfner, Cardinals' owner, dies". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. January 30, 1962. p. 1, part 3.
  6. ^ "Cardinals fire football coach". Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau. Associated Press. December 19, 1972. p. 1.
  7. ^ "Coryell named Cardinal coach". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 19, 1973. p. 28.
  8. ^ "Coryell is named coach of inoffensive Cardinals". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. January 19, 1973. p. 15, part 2.