1972 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season

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1972 St. Louis Cardinals season
Owner Bill Bidwill
Head coach Bob Hollway
Home field Busch Memorial Stadium
Results
Record4–9–1
Division place4th NFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers None

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]

Contents

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

RoundOverallPlayerPositionSchool/Club Team
14 Bobby Moore (Ahmad Rashad)Wide receiver Oregon
5110 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

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 17at Baltimore Colts W 10–31–0 Memorial Stadium 53,652
2September 24at Washington Redskins L 10–241–1 RFK Stadium 53,039
3October 1 Pittsburgh Steelers L 19–251–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 49,140
4October 8at Minnesota Vikings W 19–172–2 Metropolitan Stadium 49,687
5October 15Washington RedskinsL 3–332–3Busch Memorial Stadium50,454
6October 22at New York Giants L 21–272–4 Yankee Stadium 62,756
7October 29 Chicago Bears L 10–272–5Busch Memorial Stadium50,464
8November 5at Philadelphia Eagles T 6–62–5–1 Veterans Stadium 65,720
9November 12at Dallas Cowboys L 24–332–6–1 Texas Stadium 65,218
10November 19New York GiantsL 7–132–7–1Busch Memorial Stadium48,014
11November 27at Miami Dolphins L 10–312–8–1 Miami Orange Bowl 80,010
12December 3Dallas CowboysL 6–272–9–1Busch Memorial Stadium49,787
13December 10 Los Angeles Rams W 24–143–9–1Busch Memorial Stadium36,873
14December 17Philadelphia EaglesW 24–234–9–1Busch Memorial Stadium34,872
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Washington Redskins 1130.7867–110–1336218L2
Dallas Cowboys 1040.7146–27–4319240L1
New York Giants 860.5715–37–4331247W1
St. Louis Cardinals 491.3211–6–13–7–1193303W2
Philadelphia Eagles 2111.1790–7–10–10–1145352L5

Awards and records

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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.