After practicing law for six years as a federal prosecutor, Michael Bidwill joined the Cardinals organization in 1996 as Vice President/General Counsel and today serves as team President. In that time, his influence over the club and his role in shaping its success has been undeniable.
In addition to his prominent role in guiding the Cardinals, Bidwill has established himself as an influential leader in the greater Phoenix business community where he has been a strong advocate for economic growth and development.
Within the NFL, Michael chairs the League’s Security and Fan Conduct Committee, a group of eight club executives that oversees and develops best security practices for NFL facilities and is a member of the board of NFL Charities. He has also been a member of the league’s Business Ventures Committee since 2007 when Commissioner Roger Goodell appointed him to it.
He additionally serves on Arizona’s Super Bowl Host Committee. That group not only oversaw the successful staging of Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2008 but which brought the 2015 game (Super Bowl XLIX) and its half billion dollar economic impact to the state.
From 2008-10, Bidwill served back-to-back terms as Chairman of Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). He is also a board member of Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL), an organization composed of the region’s top business and civic leaders. In July of 2011, Bidwill and 16 business leaders in the state were appointed to the Arizona Commerce Authority Board of Directors.
Michael is also a member of the board for the Pat Tillman Foundation, which carries on the legacy of the former Cardinals safety killed in Afghanistan in 2004.
In 2010, Bidwill was selected by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of its 25 “Most Admired CEO’s.” The previous year, he also received the Leader for Tomorrow award from the Boy Scouts of America.
Among his most significant accomplishments with the Cardinals was spearheading the effort that led to the creation of University of Phoenix Stadium. The venue has been a major factor in the transformation of the Cardinals and a catalyst for the team’s success. The team has also sold out every game it has played since the iconic stadium’s opening.
Strong community involvement has also been a hallmark of Bidwill’s tenure with the Cardinals, with a particular emphasis on the value of youth sports. In 2011, Bidwill led the team’s support of state legislation implementing stronger concussion guidelines and increasing awareness among Arizona high school athletes. Past recognition includes the team’s selection as the NFC recipient of the “Pop Warner NFL Team of the Year (2005)” for commitment to the development of youth football. Two years earlier, that same organization presented Michael with the Glenn S. “Pop” Warner Award, for excellence in athletics, scholarship, and life’s endeavors with integrity and humanity.
From 1990–96, Bidwill was an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Department of Justice in Phoenix where he specialized in homicide and other violent crime cases.
Bidwill earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from St. Louis University in 1987 and in 1990 earned a law degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. A licensed pilot and flying enthusiast, Bidwill also donates his time and resources as a volunteer for “Flying Samaritans,” a group of volunteers including doctors and other medical personnel who offer free medical clinics in Mexico.
