Why are the Arizona football Cardinals called the Cardinals?

The Arizona Cardinals are named after the cardinal bird, which is the state bird of Illinois, where the team was originally founded in 1898. The team was initially based in Chicago and adopted the name "Cardinals" due to the cardinal-colored jerseys worn by the team. When the franchise moved to Arizona in 1988, it retained the name, linking its history and traditions to its origins. The name has since become an integral part of the team's identity.