​We are counting down to the start of the Arizona Cardinals’ regular season. Today is Wednesday, July 8, and there are 67 days remaining until the Cardinals’ regular-season opener on September 13, a road game against the Los Angeles Chargers. With Week 1 just over two months away, it’s a fitting moment to take a retrospective look at the 1967 season for the Cardinals.
In 1967, the Cardinals finished with a 6-7-1 record. They opened the year strong, capturing three of their first four games, but they finished the season with a 1-4-1 run. Offensively, the club averaged 23.8 points per game, placing them eighth in the league among 16 teams, while the defense allowed 25.4 points per game, which ranked 12th. The late-season stretch featured three games in which opponents scored 30 or more points in the final five contests.
That year marked the rookie campaign for quarterback Jim Hart and the peak season for Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith, whose production stood as franchise bests until long after. In 1967, the Cardinals boasted 10 players selected to the Pro Bowl. On offense, left tackle Larry Wilson, center Bob DeMarco, running back Johnny Roland, right guard Ken Gray, and receiver Dave Williams earned Pro Bowl honors, while tight end Jackie Smith and defensive end Ernie McMillan joined the roster as well. Defensive end Jerry Stovall and safety Dale Meinert also received recognition. Jim Bakken, the team’s placekicker, and linebacker Ken St. Clair rounded out the Pro Bowl contingent.
First-team All-Pro honors went to DeMarco and Wilson. Roland, McMillan, and defensive tackle Chuck Walker earned second-team All-Pro status. Offensively, Dave Williams finished second in the voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Hart placed fourth.
Hart’s individual numbers were eye-catching in their own right, if not entirely reflective of postseason success. He threw a league-leading 30 interceptions, yet also connected for 19 touchdowns and amassed 3,008 passing yards. On the ground, Roland led the team with 876 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He also contributed 20 receptions for 269 yards, bringing his total yards from scrimmage to 1,145. Smith’s year was prolific by receiving standards, with 56 catches for 1,205 yards and nine touchdowns. Those 56 receptions and 1,205 receiving yards were franchise single-season records for tight ends for decades, standing as the benchmark until Trey McBride’s breakthrough efforts and subsequent seasons reset those marks in the 2020s.
In the defensive backfield, Wilson, Stovall, and cornerback Pat Fischer each intercepted four passes, highlighting a group capable of producing game-changing plays. For fans seeking more Cardinals coverage and broader NFL insights, Cards Wire’s Jess Root and the Rise Up, See Red podcast team offer ongoing analysis. You can follow the podcast on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts for the latest updates.
This feature originally appeared on Cards Wire as part of ongoing coverage ahead of the Cardinals’ opener. As the 2024 season approaches, this retrospective on the 1967 campaign provides context for how far the franchise has come and the milestones that have shaped its history.