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Committee Chairman

Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

Considered to be the best Offensive Lineman in Cardinals history, Dan Dierdorf was the game’s premier Tackle in the 1970s.

A Cardinal throughout his 13 NFL seasons, Dierdorf settled into the Right Tackle slot in his fourth year.  The move was perfect for Dierdorf, who would earn Pro Bowl accolades that year and the next four, with a sixth one in 1980.  Dierdorf was named an All-Pro (three First and three Second Team) in all those Pro Bowl seasons.  He was so good at his peak that in 1976 and 1977, he did not allow a single sack.

Dierdorf, who was born in Canton, would fittingly enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

The Cardinals also honored Dierdorf in 2006 as a member of the inaugural group in their Ring of Honor. 

As Larry Wilson’s career was winding down, the St. Louis Cardinals had another star Defensive Back in Roger Werhli to take over command of the secondary.

An All-American at Missouri, Wehrli impressed scouts with his speed at the combine, which allegedly propelled him to a late First Round Pick.  Some pundits at the time might have thought it was a reach to take Wehrli, but that was debunked almost immediately, as the Cornerback was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year (1969).

Wehrli promptly went to the following two Pro Bowls and became the top Corner in the middle portion of the 1970s after struggling the two years after.  Dubbed a "shutdown corner" by Dallas Quarterback Roger Staubach (which may have been the first time that term was used), Wehrli was named a First Team All-Pro three years in a row (1974-76) while also accumulating a four-year run of Pro Bowls (1973-76). 

Adding a seventh Pro Bowl in 1979, Wehrli slowed down afterward but would leave the game with 40 Interceptions.

Wehrli entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Cardinals Ring of Honor in 2007.

Charley Trippi was a coveted player from the University of Georgia, and the New York Yankees of the upstart All-American Football Conference thought they had him locked up.  The Chicago Cardinals, who drafted him first overall, earned his services when Cardinals owner Charles Bidwell signed him to what was a massive contract at the time, $100,000 over four years.

Trippi was the heart of what would become Chicago's "Million Dollar Backfield," as a rookie in 1947, he would lead the Cardinals to an NFL Championship.  Incredibly versatile, Trippi could play any offensive skill position and excelled at rushing, passing, and punting.  He played until 1955, finishing his career with the Cardinals and amassing 4,827 Yards From Scrimmage.

Trippi was selected for the 1940s All-Decade Team and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.  The Cardinals selected Trippi for their inaugural Ring of Honor class in 2006.

Named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, Larry Fitzgerald shattered his accomplishments at the University of Pittsburgh with a spectacular 17-year career that was spent entirely with Arizona.

After a solid rookie year, Fitzgerald broke out in his sophomore season, accumulating 1,409 Yards and 10 Touchdowns.  The 11-time Pro Bowler broke four digits in Yards eight more times and would twice lead the NFL in Touchdown Receptions (2008 & 2009) and Receptions (2005 & 2016).  Fitzgerald was the top weapon for Cardinal Quarterbacks for well over a decade, and had it not been for his work, Arizona would not have made their first Super Bowl, where he had 546 Yards and seven Touchdowns in their four Playoff Games.

Fitzgerald was a legend on the field and was equally so off of it, having won the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2016.

At the time of his retirement, Fitzgerald ranked second in Receptions and Receiving Yards and was sixth in Receiving Touchdowns.  He also holds a myriad of franchise records and receiving records.  He was named to the 2010s All-Decade and 100th Anniversary Team and will soon be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.