Arizona Cardinals · Franchise era 5 of 7
Fitzgerald and the impossible run: the Arizona Cardinals story
Franchise era
2004—2012
Fitzgerald and the impossible run
Arizona Cardinals
The story in one sentence
Warner's revival and Fitzgerald's extraordinary 2008 postseason sent the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl and within one late drive of a championship.
A Hall of Fame receiver carries Arizona to the Super Bowl
Larry Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the arians contender.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2004
What came before
The move to the desert brought only one playoff appearance in sixteen seasons, though Williams became an all-time defender and Plummer authored a memorable upset in Dallas.
2009-01-10
Divisional Round: Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers
2009-01-18
Conference Championship: Philadelphia Eagles vs Arizona Cardinals
2009-02-01
Super Bowl: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Arizona Cardinals
After 2012
What came next
Bruce Arians unlocked Palmer's best late-career football and built a 13-win team that reached the 2015 NFC Championship Game.
The core