A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 2016 Arizona Cardinals season | |
|---|---|
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| Owner | Bill Bidwill |
| General manager | Steve Keim |
| Head coach | Bruce Arians |
| Home field | University of Phoenix Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 7–8–1 |
| Division place | 2nd NFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | |
| AP All-Pros | 3
|
| Uniform | |
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The 2016 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 97th in the National Football League, their 118th overall, their 29th in Arizona, their 11th at University of Phoenix Stadium and their fourth under head coach Bruce Arians.
In free agency, they signed veteran defensive back Tyvon Branch and veteran lineman Evan Mathis, while re-signing several key players. They traded for Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots, sending Jonathan Cooper and a late second-round pick to New England.
The Cardinals came into the 2016 season with expectations of improving on their 2015 campaign and reaching the Super Bowl. However, after a 1–3 start, they suffered injuries to quarterback Carson Palmer and most of the offensive line. On October 23, the Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks played out a 6–6 tie; this was the Cardinals' first tie since 1986 when they were the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also the lowest-scoring NFL tie since overtime was introduced in 1974. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15 after a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Despite winning their final two games, the Cardinals ended the season with a losing record at 7–8–1. Because the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, their first title in 108 years, the Cardinals also finished the season with the longest active championship drought in the four major American professional sports, with their last championship in 1947 as the Chicago Cardinals.
Free agents
| Position | Player | Tag | 2016 Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Jaron Brown | RFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| TE | Jermaine Gresham | UFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| TE | Darren Fells | UFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| TE | Ifeanyi Momah | ERFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| QB | Drew Stanton | UFA | ARI | two-year deal |
| RB | Chris Johnson | RFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| P | Drew Butler | UFA | ARI | two-year deal |
| LS | Mike Leach | UFA | --- | retired |
| G | Ted Larsen | UFA | CHI | one-year deal |
| C | Lyle Sendlein | UFA | --- | retired |
| T | Bobby Massie | UFA | CHI | three-year deal |
| T | Kelvin Palmer | UFA | TB | one-year deal |
| T | Bradley Sowell | UFA | SEA | one-year deal |
| S | Tony Jefferson | RFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| S | D. J. Swearinger | RFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| S | Rashad Johnson | UFA | TEN | one-year deal |
| S | Chris Clemons | UFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| CB | Jerraud Powers | UFA | BAL | one-year deal |
| CB | Corey White | UFA | BUF | one-year deal |
| DE | Billy Winn | RFA | DEN | one-year deal |
| ILB | Sean Weatherspoon | UFA | ATL | one-year deal |
| ILB | Kenny Demens | ERFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| OLB | LaMarr Woodley | UFA | TBA | |
| OLB | Dwight Freeney | UFA | ATL | one-year deal |
| DE | Josh Mauro | ERFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| DE | Red Bryant | UFA | ARI | one-year deal |
| Player re-signed by the Cardinals |
Draft
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Robert Nkemdiche | DE | Ole Miss |
| 3 | 92 | Brandon Williams | CB | Texas A&M |
| 4 | 128 | Evan Boehm | C | Missouri |
| 5 | 167 | Marqui Christian | S | Midwestern State |
| 5 | 170 | Cole Toner | OT | Harvard |
| 6 | 205 | Harlan Miller | CB | Southeastern Louisiana |
Notes
- The Cardinals traded their second-round selection (No. 61 overall) and guard Jonathan Cooper to the New England Patriots in exchange for defensive end Chandler Jones.
- The Cardinals traded a conditional seventh-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Matt Barkley; the Eagles will only receive this selection if Barkley is on the Cardinals' roster for at least six games during the 2015 season.
- The Cardinals received a sixth-round compensatory pick (No. 170 overall) as the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Cardinals experienced during the 2015 free agency period.
Staff
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Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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