History of the Arizona Cardinals Devil Stadium. Tragedy struck the team on April 22, 2004 when former safety Pat Tillman, a popular player who was an All-American at Arizona State, was killed in Afghanistan while serving in the United States Army. Tillman left professional football following the 2001 season to serve in the military in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Tillman became the first NFL player to lose his life in war since Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Bob Kalsu died in 1970 during the Vietnam War. Tillman's jersey number 40 was retired at the Cardinals' first home game of 2004. In early
1892 Iowa Agricultural Cardinals football team 1892 Iowa Agricultural Cardinals football team The 1892 Iowa Agricultural Cardinals football team represented Iowa Agricultural College (later renamed Iowa State University) as an independent during the 1892 college football season. The 1892 season was the first in which an organized group of athletes represented Iowa State in football. However, the team did not engage in intercollegiate football, playing only two non-collegiate teams and compiling a 1–0–1 record. The team played a town team from State Center to a 6-6 tie and defeated a team representing the Des Moines YMCA by a 30-0 score. Dr. Ira C. Brownlie was both