The 2018 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 99th in the National Football League (NFL), their 31st in Arizona, and their only season under head coach Steve Wilks. During the off-season, State Farm purchased the naming rights to the Cardinals' home stadium and it was renamed from University of Phoenix Stadium to State Farm Stadium. Although former head coach Bruce Arians retired before the season began, he came out of retirement on January 8, 2019 to become the new coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Carson Palmer, the starting quarterback for the previous five seasons, retired in the offseason. To replace him, the Cardinals signed veteran quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon, also selecting Josh Rosen in the first round of the draft. While Rosen took over the starting job by week 4, he and Bradford struggled throughout the season with Glennon only playing sparingly. All three quarterbacks were released or traded by the Cardinals during or after the season.
With a Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Cardinals had their first double digit loss season since 2012 and were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season. One highlight of the Cardinals' 2018 season was their first ever victory against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, which also resulted in the firing of Packers head coach Mike McCarthy after a nearly 13-year tenure. They finished the season 3âÂÂ13, their worst record since 2000. The Cardinals also tallied a 1âÂÂ7 record at home, the worst in franchise history until it was tied by four years later. Head coach Steve Wilks was fired the day after the season ended. The Cardinals finished last place in the division for the first time since 2012.
This was also the last full season under the ownership of Bill Bidwill, who died during the 2019 season.
Draft trades
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Rosen's first start was a loss as the Seahawks kicked a game-winning field goal. The Cardinals started 0âÂÂ4 for the first time since 1986 when they were in St. Louis. Coupled with wins by the Raiders and Texans, the Cardinals became the only winless team in the NFL.
With the win the Cardinals improve to 1-4 and defeat the 49ers for the 7th consecutive time.
The Cardinals swept the 49ers for the fourth consecutive season.
With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 2-9 and they were swept by the AFC West.
In an upset, the Cardinals beat the Packers on the road for the first time since the 1949 season, when the Cardinals were based in Chicago, snapping a nine-game road losing streak against the Packers. It was also the first time they did so at Lambeau Field. As of 2025, this marks the last time the Cardinals defeated the Packers.
Larry Fitzgerald passed Jerry Rice for most receptions with a single team in NFL history with 1,282 receptions.
The loss ended the Cardinals' eight-game home winning streak against the Lions, losing to them at home for the first time since the 1993 season.
With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 3âÂÂ12 and finished 1âÂÂ7 at home, their worst in franchise history
With the loss, the Cardinals ended their season at 3âÂÂ13 and were swept by the Seahawks for the first time since 2014.