Revenge of the Birds
The annual NFL draft represents a renewal for the Arizona Cardinals. The April timeline brings in springtime in every NFL city. The youth selected demonstrates the ability to reintroduce efforts to make the roster a better environment with younger enthusiasm.
But the warmer days also remind us of the loved ones we have lost in our lifetime, with dedicated days such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day being recognized in late spring and early summer.
Our heroes don’t last forever. Just as our heroes are celebrated in life, here is a snapshot of several former Cardinals who passed from this earth in 2024.
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Age: 86
Passing date: September
Career: Detroit Lions 1963-1967, Cardinals (St. Louis) 1968
Clark was taken in Round 13 and had a productive career. He was a thumper who was considered a large linebacker in his day at 220 pounds. He played for 68 games in Detroit and was the franchise’s first black middle linebacker. Back then, the MLB position was only reserved for white players because of the stigma that black players weren’t intelligent enough for the smart positions of quarterback, center, and middle linebacker. He was traded to St. Louis for defensive end Joe Robb in 1968, Clark’s final NFL season.
Age: 28
Passing date: April
Career: Cardinals 2018, New England Patriots 2019-2020, Buffalo Bills 1973-1975, New York Football Giants 2021-2022
The Cardinals drafted Cunningham in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft out of UAB. He played sparingly in his rookie campaign before suffering a foot injury, which landed him on IR. At the end of his second training camp, he was traded for a sixth-round pick to the Patriots, who had offensive tackle issues and needed more depth. He played in every game, blocking on special teams, with six offensive starts. In the following training camp, he was waived on the final cutdown. The Giants signed him to their practice squad. On April 25, 2024, emergency responders found Cunningham dead at age 28 in his Clifton, New Jersey home. No official cause of death was publicly announced.
Age: 84
Passing date: October
Career: Cardinals (St. Louis) 1961-1967, Washington Redskins 1968-1977
Despite being taken in the 17th round of the 1961 NFL draft, Fischer played 17 years, including seven with the Cardinals. He was named All-State in high school and had a great career at Nebraska. During his career, he had 56 interceptions and played in 213 NFL games. He was voted to three Pro Bowls and named First or Second Team All-Pro four times. He is now in the Nebraska Hall of Fame and enshrined in the Washington Commanders Ring of Fame.
Age: 85
Passing date: September
Career: Cardinals (St. Louis) 1961-1969, Houston Oilers 1970-1971, Denver Broncos 1972-1975
Johnson was drafted in the eighth round of the AFL draft (San Diego Chargers) and in the 10th round by the NFL. He chose...
