​We are counting down to the start of the Arizona Cardinals’ regular season. Today, Saturday, July 12, marks 64 days until the Cardinals’ season opener on September 13, when they will travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers. With 63 days remaining until Week 1, it’s a good moment to look back at the 1963 season for the franchise.
The 1963 campaign began a stretch of two consecutive nine-win seasons for Arizona, as the club posted a 9-5 record in Wally Lemm’s second year as head coach. Despite the solid mark, the Cardinals did not qualify for the playoffs. They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring, averaging 24.4 points per game, while allowing 20.1 points per contest, ranking sixth in the 14-team league in that category.
That year, Arizona boasted five Pro Bowl selections: quarterback Charley Johnson, right guard Ken Gray, center Bob DeMarco, linebacker Dale Meinert, and safety Larry Wilson. Gray and DeMarco were also named to the second-team All-Pros, while receiver Bobby Joe Conrad earned first-team All-Pro honors.
Johnson, who led the NFL in passing attempts with 423, threw for 3,280 yards and 28 touchdowns against 21 interceptions. He was a central figure in the Cardinals’ aerial attack, which also featured standout performances from Conrad and Wilson.
In the backfield, Joe Childress led the team with 701 rushing yards, while Bill Triplett contributed 652 rushing yards. Both players surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage: Childress added 25 receptions for 354 yards, and Triplett brought in 31 catches for 396 yards. Conrad dominated the receiving corps, leading the team and the league with 73 receptions for 967 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sonny Randle also contributed significantly with 51 receptions for 1,014 yards and 12 touchdowns.
On defense, cornerback Pat Fischer intercepted eight passes to lead the unit, with Wilson adding four interceptions as a key playmaker in the secondary.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire. It highlights “63 days till Arizona Cardinals’ opener: Remembering the 1963 season” as part of our ongoing coverage and historical context.