Five Arizona Cardinals Who Should Be in the Ring of Honor

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 16: The Arizona Cardinals logo is seen on a flag before the Cardinals take on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 16, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 16: The Arizona Cardinals logo is seen on a flag before the Cardinals take on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 16, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Ottis Anderson during Official Celebrity Gift Lounge – Super Bowl XL – Produced by On 3 Productions – Day 1 at Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, United States. (Photo by Leon Halip/NFLPhotoLibrary for ON 3 PRODUCTIONS)
Ottis Anderson during Official Celebrity Gift Lounge – Super Bowl XL – Produced by On 3 Productions – Day 1 at Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, United States. (Photo by Leon Halip/NFLPhotoLibrary for ON 3 PRODUCTIONS) /

Ottis Anderson was a great running back in Arizona long before he won a Super Bowl in New York

Most people remember Ottis Anderson as a member of the New York Giants. There he resurrected his career and won two Super Bowls. However, that’s not where his career began.

Anderson was drafted eighth overall by the St Louis Cardinals in 1979. He immediately showed what he could do, rushing for 193 yards in his first game. He ran for over 1,600 as a rookie and won the Rookie of the Year award.

In five of his first six seasons, Anderson rushed for at least 1,174 yards. The one season he fell short was strike-shortened. Still, over that span, he averaged 1,227 yards per season on the ground.

Anderson eventually was traded to the Giants, and went on to create his own Super Bowl moment. He left a legacy with the Cardinals, though. He’s still the all-time leading rusher in franchise history, by a wide margin. He’s one of the greats, and deserves to be honored by the team.