The Arizona Cardinals have a 3-3-1 record through seven games this season, the first season under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. While that is nothing super impressive at a glance, he is making history.
No other Cardinals coach since 1966 has led the Cardinals to a better record through seven games of his first full season as coach.
Here is the record through seven games for every coach in their first full season since the team moved to Arizona.
- Kliff Kingsbury (2019): 3-3-1
- Steve Wilks (2018): 1-6
- Bruce Arians (2013): 3-4
- Ken Whisenhunt (2007): 3-4
- Dennis Green (2004): 2-5
- Dave McGinnis (2001): 2-5
- Vince Tobin (1996): 3-4
- Buddy Ryan (1994): 2-5
- Joe Bugel (1990): 2-5
Only three other coaches had three wins in their first seven games. Oddly enough, Tobin, Whisenhunt and Arians are the only coaches in the Cardinals’ Arizona history to take the team to the postseason.
Based on this information alone, history says Kingsbury will lead the team to the postseason at some point.
If we take things back further to the team’s time in St. Louis, we see a similar trend.
- Gene Stallings (1986): 1-6
- Jim Hanifan (1980): 2-5
- Bud Wilkinson (1978): 0-7
- Don Coryell (1973): 3-4
- Bob Hollway (1971): 3-4
- Charley Winner (1966): 5-1-1
We have to go back to 1966 for a better seven-game start in a coach’s first season.
Before Kingsbury, five coaches have won three games in their first seven in their first season. All but one took the Cardinals to the playoffs at some point.
Obviously, it is impossible to say with certainty that Kingsbury will also do it, but history says it will be coming. It could be as early as next season. Arians, Whisenhunt and Coryell took the Cardinals to the postseason in their second season. Tobin did it in his third season.
Good times are coming for the Cardinals, at least if you trust history.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
