Staff

Share

Link

Print

Email

* Required field

Allow up to 5 recipients

Recipient Email *

Send up to 5 emails, separate emails with a comma

Sender Email *

RSS

William V. Bidwill

Owner

Biography

William V. Bidwill’s association with the Cardinals began as a child ball boy on Chicago’s South Side and continues today as owner.

A native of Chicago, Bill Bidwill presides over the oldest continuously-operated professional football franchise. Founded in 1898, the Cardinals join the Chicago Bears as the only two remaining charter members of the National Football League (1920). While he has seen quite a bit in over seven decades of involvement with the team, few achievements compared to those reached by the Cardinals a year ago when they captured their first NFC title and advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time in team history.

William V. Bidwill’s association with the Cardinals began as a child ball boy on Chicago’s South Side and continues today as owner.

A native of Chicago, Bill Bidwill presides over the oldest continuously-operated professional football franchise. Founded in 1898, the Cardinals join the Chicago Bears as the only two remaining charter members of the National Football League (1920). While he has seen quite a bit in over seven decades of involvement with the team, few achievements compared to those reached by the Cardinals a year ago when they captured their first NFC title and advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time in team history.

The Cardinals have remained in the Bidwill family since Bill’s father, Charles, a prominent Chicago sports figure and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, purchased the team in 1932. Charles ran the club until his death in the Cardinals’ NFL championship year of 1947. Charles’ wife, Violet, then guided the franchise’s fortunes for the next 15 years, followed jointly by sons Bill and Charles, Jr. (Stormy). Bill became sole owner in 1972.

Named a Cardinal vice president during his undergraduate days at Georgetown University, Bill Bidwill returned to Chicago from the Navy in 1956 to begin assisting family interests that included football. When the Cardinals moved to St. Louis in 1960, Bidwill returned to the organization on a full-time basis.

The 78-year-old Bidwill remains involved in all areas of the Cardinals’ day-to-day operation. He operates the organization in south Tempe, Arizona from its award-winning training facility the team has called home since construction was completed in September, 1990. In August of 2006, the team opened the state-of-the-art University of Phoenix Stadium, which gave the 110+ year old franchise its first true home.

Arizona hosted its second Super Bowl when the game was played at University of Phoenix Stadium in February of 2008. Bidwill was also credited with his leading role in bringing Super Bowl XXX to Arizona on January of 1996.

An active supporter of various civic and charitable organizations and endeavors, Bidwill directed the formation of Cardinals Charities, the team’s organization dedicated to supporting worthy Arizona causes, shortly after the Cardinals arrived in the state.

Bidwill is co-chair of the Board of Trustees for the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle Player Benefit Plan. In August of 2007 he was named to the Board of Trustees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the governing body of the Canton-based organization.

Bidwill and his wife, Nancy, are the parents of five children and have 9 grandchildren.

More +