The 2002 Arizona Cardinals season was the franchise’s 83rd year with the National Football League (NFL), 15th season in Arizona and the second full season under head coach Dave McGinnis. It was Jake Plummer’s final season with the Cardinals as he went to the Denver Broncos in the 2003 off-season. This was the Cardinals' first season in the NFC West. The realignment put the team in the same division as the Rams, which at the time played in the Cardinals' former home of St. Louis. The Cardinals thus played one game in their former city every year from this season until, after which the Rams returned to the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Undrafted free agents

Pat Tillman

In May 2002, eight months after the September 11, 2001, attacks and after completing the fifteen remaining games of the 2001 season which followed the attacks (at a salary of $512,000 per year), Pat Tillman turned down a contract offer of $3.6 million over three years from the Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army.

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Regular season

Schedule

In the 2002 regular season, the Cardinals’ non-divisional, conference opponents were primarily from the NFC East, although they also played the Carolina Panthers from the NFC South, and the Detroit Lions from the NFC North. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC West, the second consecutive season the Cardinals faced the AFC West. Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Washington Redskins

Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 4: vs. New York Giants

Week 5: at Carolina Panthers

Week 7: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 8: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 9: vs. St. Louis Rams

Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 11: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 12: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 13: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 15: at St. Louis Rams

Week 16: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 17: at Denver Broncos

Standings

Division

Conference

Awards and records

Milestones