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1979 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) |
| teamdisplay | St. Louis Cardinals |
| year | 1979 |
| record | 5–11 |
| division_place | 5th NFC East |
| coach | Bud Wilkinson |
| Larry Wilson (interim) | |
| owner | Bill Bidwill |
| stadium | Busch Memorial Stadium |
| playoffs | *Did not qualify* |
| pro_bowlers | G Bob Young |
| RB Ottis Anderson | |
| CB Roger Wehrli | |
| shortnavlink | Cardinals seasons |
Larry Wilson (interim) RB Ottis Anderson CB Roger Wehrli The 1979 St. Louis Cardinals season was the franchise's 60th year with the National Football League and its 20th season in St. Louis. Bud Wilkinson would be fired in Week 13 after starting 3–10; Larry Wilson, a Pro Football Hall of Fame safety for the Cardinals from 1960 to 1972, would take over as interim head coach and lead the Cardinals to a 2–1 record to finish the season. Wilson would not return for the 1980 season but would return as vice president and General Manager nine years later when the Cardinals had moved to Phoenix.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1979 NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
- Owner – Bill Bidwill
- Vice President of Operations – Joe Sullivan
- Director of Pro Personnel – Larry Wilson
- Head Coach – Bud Wilkinson
- Interim HC – Larry Wilson
- Quarterbacks/Receivers – Harry Gilmer
- Offensive Backfield – Jim Sweeney
- Offensive Line – Duane Putnam
- Special Assistant – Leon McLaughlin
- Defensive Coordinator – Tom Bettis
- Defensive Line – Rudy Feldman
- Defensive Secondary – Fred Glick
- Special Teams – Jerry Thompson
- Flexibility and Strength – Don Brown
Roster
Preseason
| St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Week | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Date | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Opponent | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Result | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Record | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Venue | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at [Houston Oilers](1979-houston-oilers-season) | **L** 7–9 | 0–1 | Houston Astrodome | 46,252 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Atlanta Falcons](1979-atlanta-falcons-season) | **W** 42–17 | 1–1 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 39,705 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Kansas City Chiefs](1979-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 3–20 | 1–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 43,214 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Chicago Bears](1979-chicago-bears-season) | **W** 10–7 | 2–2 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 43,541 |
Regular season
In his NFL debut, Ottis Anderson had 193 rushing yards.
Schedule
| St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Week | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Date | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Opponent | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Result | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Record | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Venue | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Attendance | St. Louis Cardinals | year=1979 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2 | **[Dallas Cowboys](1979-dallas-cowboys-season)** | **L** 21–22 | 0–1 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 50,855 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909020crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 9 | at **[New York Giants](1979-new-york-giants-season)** | **W** 27–14 | 1–1 | Giants Stadium | 71,370 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909090nyg.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 16 | [Pittsburgh Steelers](1979-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **L** 21–24 | 1–2 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 50,416 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909160crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 23 | **[Washington Redskins](1979-washington-redskins-season)** | **L** 7–17 | 1–3 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 50,680 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909230crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30 | at [Los Angeles Rams](1979-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 0–21 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 48,160 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909300ram.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 7 | at [Houston Oilers](1979-houston-oilers-season) | **W** 24–17 | 2–4 | Astrodome | 53,043 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197910070oti.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 14 | **[Philadelphia Eagles](1979-philadelphia-eagles-season)** | **L** 20–24 | 2–5 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 48,367 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197910140crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 21 | at **[Dallas Cowboys](1979-dallas-cowboys-season)** | **L** 13–22 | 2–6 | Texas Stadium | 64,300 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197910210dal.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 28 | [Cleveland Browns](1979-cleveland-browns-season) | **L** 20–38 | 2–7 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 47,845 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197910280crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 4 | [Minnesota Vikings](1979-minnesota-vikings-season) | **W** 37–7 | 3–7 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 47,213 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911040crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 11 | at **[Washington Redskins](1979-washington-redskins-season)** | **L** 28–30 | 3–8 | RFK Stadium | 50,868 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911110was.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 18 | at **[Philadelphia Eagles](1979-philadelphia-eagles-season)** | **L** 13–16 | 3–9 | Veterans Stadium | 70,235 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911180phi.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 25 | at [Cincinnati Bengals](1979-cincinnati-bengals-season) | **L** 28–34 | 3–10 | Riverfront Stadium | 25,103 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197911250cin.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 2 | [San Francisco 49ers](1979-san-francisco-49ers-season) | **W** 13–10 | 4–10 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 41,593 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197912020crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 9 | **[New York Giants](1979-new-york-giants-season)** | **W** 29–20 | 5–10 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 39,802 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197912090crd.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 16 | at [Chicago Bears](1979-chicago-bears-season) | **L** 6–42 | 5–11 | Soldier Field | 42,810 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197912160chi.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Standings
Awards and records
- Ottis Anderson, Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year
Milestones
References
References
- "1979 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)". Pro Football Archives.
- Sports Illustrated, Oct. 27, 2008, p.24, Vol. 109, No. 16
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