The Bizarre season of the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals

After winning the NFL Championship in 1947 and compiling a combined 21–5 record in 1947 & 1948, the Chicago Cardinals fell hard, having only two winning seasons in the next eleven seasons.

The team moved to Saint Louis in 1960, giving them new life, as they had five winning seasons and only four losing seasons.

In 1964, the Cards finished the season with a 9–3–2 record, but unfortunately, it was only good enough for second place in the Eastern Conference as the Browns finished with a 10–3–1 record and went on to win the NFL Championship.

From 1965 to 1969, the team bounced up and down like a yo-yo, with a bad season in 65, a good season in 66, bad in 67, good in 68, and terrible in 1969, finishing 4–9–1.

Heading Into 1970 Season

Cardinal fans didn’t expect to have much to cheer about in 1970, but they were in for a surprise. The season didn’t start too well. Receiver John Gilliam and tight end Jackie Smith gained over 100 yards, but the Cards allowed six sacks and turned the ball over four times. The result was a 34–13 loss to the Rams. Dating back to the 1969 season, it was their sixth loss in their last seven games.

The following week, running back MacArthur Lane ran for 146 yards on 28 carries and scored two touchdowns in a 27–17 win over the Washington Redskins.

In week three, the Cardinals defeated the Dallas Cowboys 20–7. The game’s big play was a 59-yard touchdown strike from Jim Hart to John Gilliam.

The Cardinals had a much tougher time against the New Orleans Saints than expected, but some big plays and performances saved the day.

MacArthur Lane ran for 132 yards on sixteen carries, including a 74-yard touchdown run. Jackie Smith caught five passes for 149 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown reception from Jim Hart. The final was St. Louis 24. New Orleans 17.

In week five, the Cardinals fell behind early to the Philadelphia Eagles 10–0, but from then on, it was all St. Louis as they cruised to a 35–20 win. MacArthur Lane had another big day, gaining 125 yards on 15 carries and scoring three touchdowns. Lane scored a fourth touchdown on a 26-yard touchdown reception.

A Big Game At Yankee Stadium

John Gilliam had a big game against the Giants at Yankee Stadium, catching seven passes for 119 yards, but the Cardinals’ defense couldn’t stop the Giants’ passing attack. Quarterback Fran Tarkenton lit them up, throwing for 280 yards and five touchdowns. Tight end Bob Tucker gained 150 yards, and receiver Clifton McNeil added another 110 yards. The result was a 35–17 loss.

The following week, they took out their frustrations on the Houston Oilers with a 44–0 win. John Gilliam caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Jim Hart, while Dave Williams caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Pete Beathard. Don Parish scored on a 41-yard interception return. St. Louis outgained Houston 454 yards to 160 yards and allowed only nine first downs.

The Cardinals defense pitched another shutout against the Boston Patriots, allowing them just 36 yards rushing and forcing four turnovers. MacArthur Lane had a 25-yard touchdown run. Final score: St. Louis 31, Boston 0!

In a week nine game against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, the Cardinals showed the world that they were for real. The big red defense had four sacks and forced six turnovers. On offense, running back Johnny Roland scored on a 74-yard punt return and receiver John Gilliam scored on a 48-yard reverse. The final score was 38–0!

Legitimate Super Bowl Contenders?

It was the team’s third shutout in a row. They had outscored their last three opponents by an astonishing 113 to 0 margin. These Cardinals were beginning to look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

In week ten, the Cardinals’ defense held the defending Super Bowl Champion KC Chiefs to just 43 yards passing in a 6–6 tie. Their 7–2–1 record tied them for the second-best record in the NFL, and their defense had not allowed a touchdown in the last four games.

The Cardinals’ defense continued to play well in a week eleven game against the Eagles, allowing only two touchdowns. Quarterback Jim Hart played well, completing 12 of 21 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns for a 103.3 passer rating. The 23–14 win upped their record to 8–2–1. Only the 9–2 Vikings had a better record.

The following week at Tiger Stadium, the defense did its job again, allowing the Detroit Lions just one touchdown and three field goals. But offensively, besides John Gilliam, who gained 105 yards on four catches, the Cards played terribly. They gained only 38 yards rushing, 108 yards passing, had only six first downs, and turned the ball over five times. The Lions won easily 16–3.

But the Cardinals still held a half-game lead over the Cowboys and Giants in the NFC Eastern Division. If they could win their final two games, they would win the division and assure themselves a playoff spot.

In their week thirteen game against the Giants, quarterback Jim Hart threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns. MacArthur Lane caught five passes for 106 yards and scored a touchdown on a 78-yard reception. Jackie Smith caught four passes for 115 yards and scored on a 47-yard reception.

But just like their week six game against the Giants, the Cardinal’s defense couldn’t stop the Giants’ passing attack. Fran Tarkenton completed 14 of 21 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns, and the Cardinals lost 34–17.

Season Can Change Quick

Two weeks earlier, the Cardinals looked like Super Bowl contenders; now they were in danger of not making the playoffs. Going into week fourteen, only one NFC team, the Vikings, had clinched a playoff spot. Six teams, the Cardinals, Cowboys, Giants, Lions, 49ers, and Rams, fought for the remaining three playoff spots. The Rams were playing the Giants and eliminated them with a 31–3 win.

The Lions won their game, clinching a wildcard berth. That left only two spots open; one was guaranteed to the 49ers or the Rams, who were in the same division. That meant the Cardinals needed to win their game against the Redskins and hope that the Cowboys lost their game to the Oilers.

John Gilliam had another great game, gaining 125 yards receiving, including a 57-yard touchdown reception, but the Cardinals lost 28–27. Dallas won their game 52–10 and made it to the Super Bowl.

Running back MacArthur Lane, tight end Jackie Smith, tackle Ernie McMillan, linebacker Larry Stallings, cornerback Roger Wehrli, and safety Larry Wilson made the Pro Bowl. Wilson also made All-Pro. Smith, Wehrli, and Wilson are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

What caused the Cardinals’ collapse? Who can say for sure? The Cardinals experienced a similar failure in 1966 when they lost four of their last five games after going 7–1–1 in their first nine games. But at least in that season, there was a reason for the collapse, as starting quarterback Charley Johnson suffered a season-ending injury and missed the final five games.

The Cardinals never recovered from the 1970 collapse. Head Coach Charley Winner was fired, and the team had a 4–9–1 record for the next three seasons. In 1988, the Cardinals left St. Louis and moved to Arizona. In 2008, the Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mark Morthier is the host of Yesterday’s Sports, a podcast dedicated to reliving memorable sports moments from his childhood days and beyond. He grew up in New Jersey just across from New York City, so many of his episodes revolve around the great sport’s teams of the 70s for the New York area.

He is also an author of No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training (Second Edition): A Guide for People with Limited Time and Running Wild: (Growing Up in the 1970s)