GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals fall deeper into obscurity with the 2026 NFL schedule release showing the team having zero primetime games. Despite having exciting talents like All-Pro Trey McBride, top draft pick Jeremiyah Love and Marvin Harrison Jr., the franchise will have zero nationally televised games, playing 13 games in the late-game window slot.
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Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur (right) introduce their first-round draft pick running back Jeremiyah Love during a news conference at the Cardinals Dignity Health training facility on April 24, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Full total of NFL teams primetime games:
Despite being in the same division as the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, that have a combined 18 primetime games, Arizona couldn’t snag one. This will be the first time since 2023 in which the franchise won’t have a nationally televised game, the same season as Jonathan Gannon’s first year.
Similar to Gannon, head coach Mike LaFleur will inherit a team that was one of the league’s worst. Regardless of the exciting draft prospects added, fans and league’s interest level remains at the floor. Many have given the blame to Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, as the organization remains stagnant.
Dec 28, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) celebrates with quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) after a touchdown during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Arizona hasn’t had a winning record since 2021, and before that it was 2015. In the past 10 seasons, the franchise has the fifth-most losses in the NFL with 102. Bidwill has been the face of the team since 2019 and has garnered plenty of hate for how he has decided to run the team.
The organization consistently being one of the worst-graded teams in the NFLPA report cards, alongside the poor play on the field, has Bidwill on the hot seat. The Cardinals are quickly becoming irrelevant, laying low besides other historically bad, laughing stock franchises.
If LaFleur can’t turn around the team in short order, then the NFL will continue to not schedule Arizona in primetime game, leading to more scrutiny to Bidwill.
Cardinals’ AI 2026 schedule video causes uproar from fans on social media
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
