2021 Arizona Cardinals season

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.

• 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.

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.

Owner – Michael Bidwill Chairman/president – Michael Bidwill General manager – Steve Keim Vice president of player personnel – Quentin Harris Vice president of pro scouting – Adrian Wilson Vice president of football operations & facilities – Matt Caracciolo Director of player personnel – Dru Grigson Director of college scouting – Chris Culmer Director of football administration – Matt Harriss Head coaches

Head coach – Kliff Kingsbury Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator – Jeff Rodgers Offensive coaches

Quarterbacks – Cameron Turner Running backs – James Saxon Wide receivers – Shawn Jefferson Assistant wide receivers – Spencer Whipple Tight ends – Steve Heiden Run game coordinator/offensive line – Sean Kugler Assistant offensive line – Brian Natkin Offensive assistant – Jerry Sullivan and Don Shumpert Offensive quality control – Jim Dray | | | Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Vance Joseph Defensive line – Brentson Buckner Linebackers – Billy Davis Outside linebackers – Charlie Bullen Defensive backs – Marcus Robertson Cornerbacks – Greg Williams Defensive assistant – Rusty McKinney Defensive quality control – Rob Grosso Special teams coaches

Assistant special teams – Devin Fitzsimmons Strength and conditioning

Strength and conditioning – Buddy Morris Assistant strength and conditioning – Mark Naylor |

26 Eno Benjamin  6 James Conner  2 Chase Edmonds 29 Jonathan Ward Wide receivers (WR)

83 Greg Dortch 18 A. J. Green 17 Andy Isabella 13 Christian Kirk  4 Rondale Moore 85 Antoine Wesley Tight ends (TE)

81 Darrell Daniels 86 Zach Ertz 84 Demetrius Harris | | Offensive linemen (OL) 68 Kelvin Beachum T 73 Max Garcia G 64 Sean Harlow G 53 Marcus Henry C 61 Rodney Hudson C 74 D. J. Humphries T 79 Josh Jones T 66 Joshua Miles T 67 Justin Pugh G Defensive linemen (DL)

94 Zach Allen DE 91 Michael Dogbe DE 95 Leki Fotu NT 90 Rashard Lawrence NT 98 Corey Peters NT 97 Jordan Phillips DE 99 J. J. Watt DE | | Linebackers (LB) 25 Zaven Collins ILB 52 Victor Dimukeje OLB 45 Dennis Gardeck OLB 44 Markus Golden OLB 58 Jordan Hicks ILB 55 Chandler Jones OLB 42 Devon Kennard OLB  9 Isaiah Simmons ILB 47 Ezekiel Turner ILB 51 Tanner Vallejo ILB Defensive backs (DB)

 3 Budda Baker FS 31 Chris Banjo SS 33 Antonio Hamilton CB  7 Byron Murphy CB 22 Deionte Thompson SS 34 Jalen Thompson SS 28 Charles Washington FS 20 Marco Wilson CB Special teams (ST)

46 Aaron Brewer LS 14 Andy Lee P  5 Matt Prater K | | Practice squad 82 Andre Baccellia WR 24 Bashaud Breeland CB 37 Nate Brooks SS 36 Alex Ellis TE 30 Tavien Feaster RB 32 Javon Hagan FS 63 Danny Isidora G 92 Zach Kerr NT 93 Jonathan Ledbetter DE 60 Koda Martin G 96 Josh Mauro DE 27 Kevin Peterson CB 80 Bernhard Seikovits TE (Int.) 72 Eric Smith T 59 Joe Walker ILB 41 David Wells TE 39 Jace Whittaker CB Reserve

23 Robert Alford CB (IR) 69 Jack Crawford DE (IR) 49 Kylie Fitts OLB (IR) 10 DeAndre Hopkins WR (IR) 71 Justin Murray T (IR) 38 James Wiggins FS (IR) 87 Maxx Williams TE (IR) Rookies in italics 53 active, 7 reserve, 16 practice squad (1 exempt) |

The Cardinals' preseason schedule was announced on May 12.

The Cardinals' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

The Cardinals earned their first 3–0 start since 2015.

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.

The Cardinals started 6–0 for the first time since 1974.

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.

The Packers offense lining up against the Cardinals defense during the game.

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.

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.

With this win the Cardinals improved to 9-2 and secured their first winning season since 2015.

Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins returned to the field after the bye and connected for a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

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.

NFL on Christmas Day

With the win, the Cardinals finished a league-best 8–1 on the road.

With the loss, the Cardinals finished the season 11–6, earning a Wildcard spot in the 2021–22 NFL playoffs as the 5th seed.

Statistics correct as of the end of the 2021 NFL season

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