The 2021 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 102nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 34th in Arizona and their third under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Cardinals started 7–0 for the first time in 47 years when they were based in St. Louis. They improved from their 8–8 season from the previous year with a 23–13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11 and clinched their first winning season since 2015. Despite a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, the Cardinals clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2015 after the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite an impressive 7–0 start and acquiring All-Pros J. J. Watt and A. J. Green prior to the season starting, the team suffered their second consecutive late-season collapse, only winning four out of their last ten games, resulting in them losing their lead in the division and dropping to the fifth seed. Their late season woes continued into the playoffs, where they would be eliminated in the Wild Card Round by their division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams by a blowout score of 34–11.
In the offseason, cornerback Patrick Peterson left in free agency after 10 years, and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald chose not to sign with any team after 17 years with the franchise.
Roster changes Position Player 2021 team Contract TE Dan Arnold UFA Carolina Panthers 2–year S Chris Banjo UFA Arizona Cardinals 1–year OT Kelvin Beachum UFA Arizona Cardinals 2–year DE Angelo Blackson UFA Chicago Bears 2–year LB De'Vondre Campbell UFA Green Bay Packers 1–year TE Darrell Daniels UFA Arizona Cardinals 1-year TE Seth DeValve UFA N/A N/A RB Kenyan Drake UFA Las Vegas Raiders 2–year LB Kylie Fitts ERFA Arizona Cardinals 1–year WR Larry Fitzgerald UFA N/A N/A RB D. J. Foster UFA N/A N/A OG Max Garcia UFA Arizona Cardinals 1–year LB Dennis Gardeck RFA Arizona Cardinals 1–year LB Markus Golden UFA Arizona Cardinals 2–year QB Brett Hundley UFA Indianapolis Colts 1–year LB Isaiah Irving UFA N/A N/A CB Johnathan Joseph UFA N/A N/A CB Dre Kirkpatrick UFA San Francisco 49ers 1–year P Andy Lee UFA Arizona Cardinals 1–year K Mike Nugent UFA N/A N/A DT Domata Peko UFA N/A N/A DT Corey Peters UFA Arizona Cardinals 1–year CB Patrick Peterson UFA Minnesota Vikings 1–year CB Kevin Peterson UFA N/A N/A LB Haason Reddick UFA Carolina Panthers 1–year WR Trent Sherfield UFA San Francisco 49ers 1–year OG J.R. Sweezy UFA N/A N/A LB Ezekiel Turner RFA Arizona Cardinals 1–year LB Tanner Vallejo UFA Arizona Cardinals 2–year S Charles Washington UFA Arizona Cardinals 1-year Player re-signed by the Cardinals Player not re-signed by the Cardinals
Signings Position Player 2020 team Date signed Contract WR A. J. Green UFA Cincinnati Bengals March 17 1–year, $8.5 million K Matt Prater UFA Detroit Lions March 17 2–year, $6.5 million DE J. J. Watt UFA Houston Texans March 17 2–year, $28 million OG Brian Winters UFA Buffalo Bills March 22 1–year, $1 million CB Malcolm Butler UFA Tennessee Titans March 25 1–year, $6 million S Shawn Williams UFA Cincinnati Bengals March 29 1–year QB Colt McCoy UFA New York Giants March 30 1–year RB James Conner UFA Pittsburgh Steelers April 13 1-year
Trades March 17: The Cardinals traded a third–round pick in 2021 NFL draft to the Las Vegas Raiders for C Rodney Hudson. March 25: The Cardinals traded C Mason Cole to the Minnesota Vikings for a sixth–round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. October 15: The Cardinals traded a fifth-round pick in 2022 NFL draft and CB Tay Gowan to the Philadelphia Eagles for Tight end Zach Ertz.
Draft
2021 Arizona Cardinals Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 16 Zaven Collins LB Tulsa 2 49 Rondale Moore WR Purdue 4 136 Marco Wilson CB Florida from Kansas City via Baltimore6 210 Victor Dimukeje DE Duke from Baltimore 223 Tay Gowan CB UCF from Minnesota via trade for Mason Cole 7 243 James Wiggins S Cincinnati 247 Michal Menet C Penn State from Chicago via Las Vegas
Notes
The Cardinals traded their third-round selection to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for the Raiders' seventh-round selection, originally from the Chicago Bears, and center Rodney Hudson. The Cardinals traded their 2020 second-round selection, their 2021 fourth-round selection, and running back David Johnson to the Houston Texans in exchange for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and the Texans' 2020 fourth-round selection. The Cardinals traded their fifth-round pick and a 2022 fourth-round selection to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick. The Cardinals traded their sixth-round selection to the New York Giants in exchange for linebacker Markus Golden.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Cardinals' preseason schedule was announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Dallas Cowboys W 19–16 1–0 State Farm Stadium Recap 2 Kansas City Chiefs L 10–17 1–1 State Farm Stadium Recap 3 at New Orleans Saints Cancelled due to Hurricane Ida
Regular season Schedule The Cardinals' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 at Tennessee Titans W 38–13 1–0 Nissan Stadium Recap 2 September 19 Minnesota Vikings W 34–33 2–0 State Farm Stadium Recap 3 September 26 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 31–19 3–0 TIAA Bank Field Recap 4 October 3 at Los Angeles Rams W 37–20 4–0 SoFi Stadium Recap 5 October 10 San Francisco 49ers W 17–10 5–0 State Farm Stadium Recap 6 October 17 at Cleveland Browns W 37–14 6–0 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 7 October 24 Houston Texans W 31−5 7–0 State Farm Stadium Recap 8 Green Bay Packers L 21–24 7–1 State Farm Stadium Recap 9 November 7 at San Francisco 49ers W 31–17 8–1 Levi's Stadium Recap 10 November 14 Carolina Panthers L 10–34 8–2 State Farm Stadium Recap 11 November 21 at Seattle Seahawks W 23–13 9–2 Lumen Field Recap 12 Bye 13 December 5 at Chicago Bears W 33–22 10–2 Soldier Field Recap 14 Los Angeles Rams L 23–30 10–3 State Farm Stadium Recap 15 December 19 at Detroit Lions L 12–30 10–4 Ford Field Recap 16 December 25 Indianapolis Colts L 16–22 10–5 State Farm Stadium Recap 17 January 2 at Dallas Cowboys W 25–22 11–5 AT&T Stadium Recap 18 January 9 Seattle Seahawks L 30–38 11–6 State Farm Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Cardinals earned their first 3–0 start since 2015.
Week 4: at Los Angeles Rams
With the win, the Cardinals not only improved to 4–0 for the first time since 2012, but earned their first victory over the Rams since Week 17 of the 2016 season. Also, with the Broncos, the Raiders, and the Panthers losing their first games of the season, the Cardinals became the last undefeated team in the NFL.
Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 6: at Cleveland Browns
The Cardinals started 6–0 for the first time since 1974.
Week 7: vs. Houston Texans
The Arizona Cardinals played the Houston Texans at home. This was the first game where former Texans DeAndre Hopkins and JJ Watt played against their former team, as well as tight end Zach Ertz's debut with the Cardinals.
Week 8: vs. Green Bay Packers
The Packers handed the Cardinals their first loss to deny them a perfect season with a 24–21 victory on Thursday Night Football, despite entering the game without their top three wide receivers—Allen Lazard and All-Pro WR Davante Adams missed the game due to COVID protocols, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling was still recovering from a groin injury suffered in Week 3. Kyler Murray had the ball with time winding down, and the ball in field goal range, but a pass intended for wide receiver A. J. Green was picked off in the endzone by Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas, who began the season on the Cardinals practice squad.
Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers
Despite Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins not playing, the Cardinals dominated the game to sweep the season series for the first time since 2018. With the win, the Cardinals improved to 8–1 and tied their 8-win mark from the previous season.
Week 10: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks
With this win the Cardinals improved to 9-2 (4-0 against the NFC West & 6-0 on the road) and secured their first winning season since 2015. As of 2026, this remains their most recent win against the Seahawks.
Week 13: at Chicago Bears
Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins returned to the field after the bye and connected for a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 15: at Detroit Lions
Despite the Cardinals being the favorite to win, the 1-11-1 Detroit Lions blew them out 30-12 in an unexpected loss.
The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 37-yard field goal by Riley Patterson. The Lions scored 14 points in the second quarter via a 37-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown and a 22-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Josh Reynolds, which made the score 17–0 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Cardinals finally got on the board in the third quarter via a 29-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The Lions extended their lead via a six-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Jason Cabinda. The Cardinals responded with a 29-yard field goal by Prater. The Lions extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 47-yard field goal by Patterson. The Cardinals responded with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to Christian Kirk. The Lions scored the final points of the game via a 45-yard field goal by Patterson, making the final score 30–12 in favor of Detroit.
With the loss, Arizona fell to 10-4, marking their only road game loss in 2021.
Week 16: vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL on Christmas Day
Week 17: at Dallas Cowboys
With the win, the Cardinals finished a league-best 8–1 on the road.
Week 18: vs. Seattle Seahawks
With the loss, the Cardinals finished the season 11–6, earning a Wildcard spot in the 2021–22 NFL playoffs as the 5th seed.
Standings Division
Conference
Postseason
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card at Los Angeles Rams (4) L 11–34 0–1 SoFi Stadium Recap
Game summaries NFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) Los Angeles Rams
Statistics
Team
CategoryTotal yardsYards per gameNFL rank Passing offense 4,276 251.5 10th Rushing offense 2,076 122.1 10th Total offense 6,352 373.6 8th Passing defense 2,771 163.0 7th Rushing defense 1,952 114.8 20th Total defense 5,597 329.2 11th
Individual
CategoryPlayerTotal yards Offense Passing Kyler Murray 3,787 Rushing James Conner 752 Receiving Christian Kirk 982 Defense Tackles (Solo) Jalen Thompson 79 Sacks Markus Golden 11 Interceptions Byron Murphy 4
Statistics correct as of the end of the 2021 NFL season
References
External links