The Cardinals welcome the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs to State Farm Stadium on Friday for a matchup that will air nationally on ESPN. Following this game Arizona is next in front of its home fans in Week 2 of the regular season vs. Minnesota on Sept. 19.
Highlighting Friday’s game will be the reunion of Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury and Chiefs All-Pro QB Patrick Mahomes. Before he was a first-round draft pick, NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP, Mahomes played three seasons at Texas Tech during Kingsbury’s Ɵ me as head coach. In 2016, Texas Tech led the nation in total offense and Mahomes led the nation in passing yards.
While the Cardinals and Chiefs have met just 13 times during the regular season, they have had twice as many matchups (26) during preseason. The vast majority of those occurred when both teams were based in Missouri. Between 1968 and 1987, meetings (both preseason and regular season) between the Cardinals and Chiefs were known as the Missouri Governor’s Cup. The two teams squared off during the preseason in all 20 years during that span and they also met five times during the regular season.
Following this week’s game the Cardinals make their first road trip of the season when they travel to New Orleans for the preseason finale against the Saints.
CARDINALS-CHIEFS PRESEASON SERIES
Friday’s primetime matchup on ESPN will be the 27Ǧǚ all-Ɵ me preseason meeting between the Cardinals and Chiefs dating back to 1968. The only NFL teams the Cardinals have faced more in the preseason than Kansas City are Chicago (29x) and Denver (28x). The Cardinals are 10-15-1 in the preseason vs. Kansas City. The vast majority of those contests occurred when both teams were based in Missouri. Between 1968 and 1987, meetings (both preseason and regular season) between the Cardinals and Chiefs were known as the Missouri Governor’s Cup. The two teams squared off during the preseason in all 20 years during that span and they also met five times during the regular season. The Cards and Chiefs have met in the preseason just five times in the 32 years since.
CARDS-CHIEF ARDS-CHIEFS PRESEASON SERIES PRESEASON SERIES
Overall Preseason Series: Overall Preseason Series: 10-15-1
Cardinals at home vs. KC: Cardinals at home vs. KC: 4-7
First Preseason Meeting:8/17/68 @ K /17/68 @ KC, L, 10-13 , L, 10-13
Last Preseason Meeting:8/15/15 vs. K 8/15/15 vs. KC, L, 19-34 , L, 19-34
Last Cardinals Preseason Win: Cardinals Preseason Win: 8/16/08 @ K 8/16/08 @ KC, W, 27-17
CARDINALS PLAYER NOTES – OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS
Colt McCoy – Has thrown for 6,455 yards and 30 TDs while completing 600-of-989 passes (60.7%) in 44 games (30 starts) for Cleveland (2010- 12), San Francisco (2013), Washington (2014-19) and the Giants (2020).
Kyler Murray – Won the 2018 Heisman Trophy, selected first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, earned 2019 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and selected to his first-career Pro Bowl in 2020.
Chris Streveler – Played 35 games with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL where he threw for 2,698 yards and 19 TDs and ran for 1,167 yards and 22 TDs from 2018-19. Played five games as the Cards backup QB in 2020.
RUNNING BACKS
Eno Benjamin – Inactive for all 16 games during his rookie campaign after being selected by the Cardinals in the seventh round (222nd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Arizona State.
James Conner – Pro Bowler who signed with Arizona after four seasons (2017-20) with Pittsburgh, where he ran for 2,302 yards and 22 TDs on 532 carries plus 124 catches for 963 yards and four TDs in 50 games (33 starts).
Chase Edmonds – Cardinals fourth-round pick (134th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Fordham has 2,034 all-purpose yards in 45 career games for Arizona. Five of his seven-career rushing TDs have been 20+ yards.
Tavien Feaster – Entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and spent his rookie season with the Jaguars, Giants and Lions. Ran for 2,002 yards and 20 TDs on 346 carries in 51 games at South Carolina and Clemson.
Jonathan Ward – Played 14 games for the Cardinals during his rookie season after joining Arizona as an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan where he had 2,539 yards and 28 TDs on 473 carries in 42 games.
TIGHT ENDS
Ian Bunting – Entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Chicago in 2019 and spent time on the Jets and Colts practice squads as a rookie. Played 47 games (12 starts) at Michigan (2014-17) and California (2018).
Darrell Daniels – Entered the NFL as a undrafted free agent with the Colts and was claimed by Arizona following his release by Seattle. Has played 46 games for the Cardinals (2018-20), Seahawks (2018) and Colts (2017).
Demetrius Harris – Former college basketball player has played 101 NFL games with Chicago (2020), Cleveland (2019) and Kansas City (2014-18) after entering the league with the Chiefs as a rookie free agent in 2013.
Bernhard Seikovits – Vienna native and captain of the Austrian men’s national football team, allocated to the Cardinals through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Picked up football at age 9.
Ross Travis – After playing college basketball, signed with Kansas City’s practice squad as a rookie free agent in 2015. Has 14 catches for 142 yards in 25 games for the Chiefs (2016-17), Colts (2017-19) and Jets (2020).
Maxx Williams – Baltimore’s 2015 second-round pick (55th overall) joined Arizona on a one-year deal in 2019 and signed a two-year extension through 2021. Has 86 career receptions for 801 yards and five TDs in 66 games.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Andre Baccellia – Entered the NFL last year with Kansas City as a rookie free agent out of Washington where he played 48 games in four seasons (2016-19) and totaled 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and five TDs.
Greg Dortch – Entered the league with the Jets as a rookie free agent from Wake Forest in 2019 and has spent time on the practice squads of the Jets, Panthers, Rams and Falcons in his NFL career.
Rico Gafford – Played nine games in three seasons (2018-20) with the Raiders after signing with the Titans as a rookie free agent out of Wyoming. Entered the NFL as a DB before switching to WR with the Raiders.
A.J. Green – Seven-time Pro Bowl selection (2011-17) and two-time second-team All-Pro designee (2012-13) who appeared in 127 games (125 starts) with the Bengals and had 649 receptions for 9,430 yards and 65 TDs.
DeAndre Hopkins – Five-time Pro Bowler (2015; 2017-20) and four-time All-Pro (2017-20) tied for second in the NFL in receptions (115) and 100-yard games (seven) while ranking third in receiving yards (1,407) in 2020.
Andy Isabella – Arizona’s 2019 second-round pick (62nd overall) out of UMass was a consensus first-team All-American as a senior. Has 30 receptions for 413 yards and three TDs in 28 games) for the Cardinals.
KeeSean Johnson – Arizona’s 2019 fifth-round pick (174th overall) out of Fresno State, where he set a program record with 3,463 career receiving yards. Has 36 catches for 360 yards and one TD in 17 games for Arizona.
Christian Kirk – Scottsdale native and Arizona’s second-round pick (47th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft scored 12 receiving TDs and gained 2,406 all-purpose yards in 39 games (30 starts) during his first three NFL seasons.
Rondale Moore – Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (49th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Purdue where he had 178 catches for 1,915 yards and 14 TDs in 20 games during his three-year college career.
A.J. Richardson – Spent the last two seasons on the Cardinals practice squad after entering the league with Arizona as a rookie free agent out of Boise State where he played 53 career games (22 starts) for the Broncos.
Antoine Wesley – Spent his first two NFL seasons on the Ravens practice squad (2019) and injured reserve (2020). Named a 2018 AllAmerican with 88 receptions for 1,410 yards and nine TDs at Texas Tech.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Kelvin Beachum – Selected by Pittsburgh in the seventh round (248th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft and has started 115 of 120 games played with the Steelers (2012-15), Jaguars (2016), Jets (2017-19) and Cardinals (2020).
Branden Bowen – Entered the NFL last year with Carolina as a rookie free agent out of Ohio State where he 32 career games and started 13 games at tackle as a senior in 2019 when he was selected second-team All-Big Ten.
Shaq Calhoun – Has played 11 games with the Bengals (2020) and Dolphins (2019) after entering the league as a rookie free agent out of Mississippi State where he earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2018.
Max Garcia – Has played 78 games (41 starts) with Denver (2015-18) and Arizona (2019-20) after being selected by the Broncos in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida.
Sean Harlow – Atlanta’s 2017 fourth-round selection (136th overall) out of Oregon State. He spent the 2020 season on the Falcons practice squad after previously playing in one game with Atlanta in 2019.
Marcus Henry – Has spent time on the practice squads of the Cowboys, Texans and Seahawks after entering the league with the Saints as a rookie free agent out of Boise State. Made his NFL debut with Dallas last year.
Rodney Hudson – A 10-year NFL veteran, three-time Pro Bowler (2016- 17, ’19) and 2019 second-team All-Pro selection was acquired by the Cardinals in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders in March.
D.J. Humphries – Cardinals first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida, re-signed a three-year contract with Arizona in 2020. Has started all 59 NFL games played, including all 32 at LT since 2019.
Josh Jones – Arizona’s 2020 third-round pick (72nd overall) out of Houston where he started all 45 games he played at LT in four seasons (2016-19) for the Cougars. Played 13 games for the Cardinals during his rookie season.
Koda Martin – Spent the 2020 season on the Cardinals practice squad after entering the NFL with the Chargers as a rookie free agent in 2019. Played collegiately at Syracuse (2018) and Texas A&M (2015-17).
Michal Menet – Selected by the Cardinals with their second pick in the seventh round (247th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State where he received an All-Big Ten recognition following his last two seasons.
Josh Miles – Selected by Arizona with its first pick in the seventh round (248th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Morgan State. Played seven games during his rookie campaign.
Justin Murray – Entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Denver in 2016 and signed a two-year contract extension with Arizona in 2020. Has played 27 games (19 starts) for the Cardinals since being claimed off waivers.
Justin Pugh – Started all 101 games played with the Giants (2013-17) and \Cardinals (2018-20) since entering the league as a first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft. Signed a five-year contract with Arizona in 2018.
Brian Winters – Nine-year NFL veteran who has appeared in 105 games (88 starts) with the Jets (2013-19) and Bills (2020) after being selected by the Jets in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.
SPECIALISTS
Aaron Brewer – Signed with the Broncos as a rookie free agent and has played 133 regular season and eight playoff games with Denver (2012-15) and Arizona (2016-20).
Andy Lee – The four-time All-Pro joined Arizona after playing for the 49ers (2004-14), Browns (2015) and Panthers (2016). Ranks sixth in NFL history in career punting average (46.5).
Tyler Newsome – Entered the league as a rookie free agent in 2019 with the Chargers out of Notre Dame where he finished his career as the school’s record holder for single-game punting average and career punting average.
Matt Prater – Two-time Pro Bower (2013, ‘16) joined Arizona after 14 seasons with the Lions (2014-20), Broncos (2007-13) and Falcons (2007). NFL record-holder for longest FG (64 yards) and FGs of 50+ yards (59).
CARDINALS PLAYER NOTES – DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Zach Allen – Cardinals third-round pick (65th overall) 2019 NFL Draft out of Boston College has appeared in 17 games (seven starts) and recorded 43 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks during his first two seasons.
Jack Crawford – Raiders 2012 fifth-round pick (158th overall) out of Penn State has played 109 games over his nine-year NFL career with the Titans (2020), Falcons (2017-19), Cowboys (2014-16) and Raiders (2012-13).
Michael Dogbe – Selected by Arizona with its second pick in the seventh round (249th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Temple. Played 11 games for the Cardinals during his first two seasons.
Leki Fotu – Cardinals first pick in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, had 11 tackles, four for loss and a sack in 11 games during his rookie campaign. Family hails from the island of Tonga.
Margus Hunt – Eight-year NFL veteran has played 104 games with Cincinnati (2013-16; ’20), New Orleans (2020) and Indianapolis (2017-19) after entering the league with Cincinnati as a 2013 second-round pick (53rd overall).
Rashard Lawrence – Arizona’s second pick in the fourth round (131st overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft out of LSU, where he was a three-time team captain. Had nine tackles in nine games during his rookie season.
Josh Mauro – Stanford product entered the league as a rookie free agent with the Steelers in 2014 and has played 75 games with the Cardinals (2014-17, ‘20), Giants (2018) and Raiders (2019).
Cam Murray – Signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Oklahoma State where he had 62 tackles (33 solo), 8.0 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and three passes defensed in 42 games for the Cowboys.
David Parry – Has appeared in 36 games (32 starts) for Indianapolis (2015-16), New Orleans (2017) and Minnesota (2018). Entered the league with the Colts as a 2015 fifth-round selection (151st overall) out of Stanford.
Corey Peters – An 11-year NFL veteran and the Cardinals 2020 “Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year” has played 67 games (66 starts) the past five years with Arizona after joining the team as a free agent from Atlanta in 2015.
Jordan Phillips – Six-year NFL veteran has played 85 games with the Dolphins (2015-18), Bills (2018-19) and Cardinals (2020) after being selected by Miami in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft.
J.J. Watt – Five-time first-team All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of
the Year. Signed a two-year contract with Arizona after 10 years in Houston.
LINEBACKERS
Zaven Collins – Selected by the Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Tulsa where he received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lombardi Award.
Victor Dimukeje – Selected by Arizona with their first pick of the sixth round (210th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Duke. Earned All-ACC honors as a junior and senior and named a semifinalist for the 2020 Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Kylie Fitts – Has played 22 games (one start) for the Cardinals (2019-20) \and Bears (2018) after being selected by Chicago in the sixth-round (181st overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. Played 13 games for Arizona last season.
Jamell Garcia-Williams – Entered the league with San Francisco last season as an undrafted rookie free agent out of UAB where he 44 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in two seasons.
Dennis Gardeck – Named a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams in 2019 and selected as a team captain in 2020. Signed by Arizona as a rookie free agent out of Sioux Falls in 2018 and played 44 games in his first three seasons.
Markus Golden – Arizona’s 2015 second-round pick (58th overall) in the out of Missouri has appeared in 78 games for the Cardinals (2015-18) and Giants (2019-20). Returned to Arizona in a trade with New York last year.
Jordan Hicks – Philadelphia’s 2015 second-round pick (84th overall) signed a four-year contract with Arizona in 2019. Has played 75 games (72 starts) for the Eagles (2015-18) and Cardinals (2019-20).
Chandler Jones – Three-time Pro Bowl selection (2015, ’17 and ‘19) and two-time first-team All-Pro (2017 and ‘19) leads the NFL in sacks (97.0) and forced fumbles (27 – tied) since entering the league in 2012.
Devon Kennard – Eighth-year NFL veteran and Phoenix native has played 96 games with the Giants (2014-17), Lions (2018-19) and Cardinals after being selected by New York in the fifth round (174th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Isaiah Simmons – Eighth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Clemson, where he was a unanimous first-team All-American and the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top LB. Selected to the PFWA All-Rookie team last year.
Terrance Smith – Has played 34 games with the Chiefs (2016-18) and Cardinals (2020) after entering the league as a rookie free agent with Kansas City out of Florida State in 2016.
Ezekiel Turner – Signed with Arizona as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Washington. Had two blocked punts last season and has 41 special teams tackles in 44 career games for the Cardinals.
Tanner Vallejo – Buffalo’s 2017 sixth-round (195th overall) pick out of Boise State has played 55 games with Buffalo (2017), Cleveland (2018), Washington (2019) and Arizona (2019-20).
Evan Weaver – Selected by the Cardinals in the sixth round (202nd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft out of California and spent his rookie season on Arizona’s practice squad. Named the 2019 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Bryson Young – Originally entered the NFL in 2020 with Atlanta as an undrafted rookie free agent from Oregon and spent training camp with the Falcons last year. Played 49 games in four seasons for the Ducks.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Robert Alford – Atlanta’s 2013 second-round pick (60th overall) played 88 games in six seasons with the Falcons. Re-signed with the Cardinals in March after suffering season-ending injuries in consecutive training camps.
Budda Baker – Arizona’s 2017 second-round pick (36th overall) out of Washington was named a team captain, earned first-team All-Pro honors and selected to his third Pro Bowl (second consecutive at safety) in 2020.
Chris Banjo – Has played 102 games (six starts) with the Packers (2013-16), Saints (2016-18) and Cardinals (2019-20). SMU product had career highs in starts (four) and tackles (26) in 13 games last season.
Malcolm Butler – Two-time Pro Bowl selection who has played 100 regular season games (84 starts) with the Patriots (2014-17) and Titans (2018-20). Entered the league as a rookie free agent out of West Alabama.
Darqueze Dennard – Seven-year NFL veteran has played 85 games with Cincinnati (2014-19) and Atlanta (2020). Entered the NFL as a first round (24th overall) selection by Cincinnati in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Tay Gowan – Selected by Arizona with their second pick of the sixth round (223rd overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Central Florida. Due to the COVID pandemic, opted out of the 2020 season to protect his newborn daughter.
Byron Murphy Jr. – Scottsdale native and Arizona’s 2019 second-round pick (33rd overall) out of Washington. Has recorded 129 tackles (106 solo) and 18 passes defensed in 31 games (23 starts) during his first two seasons.
Picasso Nelson – Entered the NFL in 2019 with Jacksonville as a rookie free agent out of Southern Mississippi where he had 202 tackles and four INTs in 50 games. Joined Arizona’s practice squad last season.
Deionte Thompson – Arizona’s 2019 fifth-round pick (139th overall) out of Alabama where he was a consensus first-team All-American. Has 44 tackles (31 solo) and three passes defensed in 24 games (six starts).
Jalen Thompson – Selected by Arizona in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Supplemental Draft out of Washington State. Has 82 tackles, an INT and a fumble recovery in 20 games (13 starts) during his first two seasons.
Charles Washington – Signed with Detroit as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Fresno State in 2016 and has played 56 games with the Lions (2016-18) and Cardinals (2019-20).
Jace Whittaker – Played four games for the Cardinals last season after signing with the team as a rookie free agent out of Arizona. Had 159 tackles, seven INTs and 41 passes defensed in 49 games for the Wildcats.
James Wiggins – Selected by the Cardinals with their first pick of the seventh round (243rd overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati where he was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press in 2020.
Shawn Williams – Signed with the Cardinals in March after spending his first eight seasons (2013-20) with Cincinnati. Georgia product played 119 games (61 starts) and totaled 390 tackles and 12 INTs for the Bengals.
Marco Wilson – Selected by Arizona in the fourth round (136th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Florida where he started all but one of the 36 games he played in for the Gators and was part of three-consecutive bowl teams.
Daryl Worley – Has played 66 games (54 starts) with the Panthers, Raiders, Cowboys and Bills after being selected by Carolina in the third round (77th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft out of West Virginia.
