Twenty-Five Greatest Players in Cardinals History

Ollie Matson’s star burned brightly, but not for long enough.

Matson is another player who, had he spent more time with the franchise, would have been higher on this list. He was a terrific runner, and good receiver who lined up at wide receiver quite often. No matter where he lined up, he made plays.

Matson was an extremely valuable player from the start. His Rookie of the Year campaign in 1952 saw him score eight times and total 1,275 yards, which was good for 4^th in the league. He would be in the top four in that category in every year he played for the Cardinals. Despite playing for only six seasons, he is 9^th in career rushing yards in team history, and 6^th in total touchdowns. He’s also the team’s all-time leader in returns for scores, with nine.

An Olympic level athlete, Matson used his natural skills to become a great player. He made the Pro Bowl in all six of his seasons with the Cardinals, and a first-team All Pro in five of those years. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972, and is a member of the Cardinals Ring of Honor.