Cardinals president Michael Bidwill (right) walks off the field with GM Steve Keim Sunday night after the Cards beat the Seahawks. Bidwill and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey will be inducted into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame in January.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced Thursday that Cardinals president Michael Bidwill, along with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, will be inducted into the National Football Foundation Leadership Hall of Fame in January.
The induction will take place Jan. 7 at the Arizona Biltmore, during the kickoff event of a festivities leading into the College Football Playoff national championship game Jan. 11 at University of Phoenix Stadium.
"Governor Ducey and Michael Bidwill share many similar traits, and they have developed a close relationship with the singular goal
of making Arizona a better place," NFF Chairman Archie Manning said in a statement. "They have formed a powerful public-private partnership, and we are proud to recognize them for their joint leadership and their efforts to unify their state and promote its reputation as a prime place to conduct business with an unmatched quality of life."
Established in 2013, the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame provides the NFF with a powerful platform for recognizing the country's most influential individuals who have ascended to the highest levels of success and exhibited the critical leadership qualities that transcend ordinary enterprises.
Bidwill and Gov. Ducey become the seventh and eighth inductees into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame, joining New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the father of aerobics Dr. Kenneth Cooper, legendary attorney Joe Jamail, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Bruin Sports Capital CEO George Pyne and Wasserman Media Group Chairman and CEO Casey Wasserman. Each inductee's accomplishments are enshrined in an exhibit at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta as role models for future generations to emulate.
Bidwill's leadership has been apparent especially in the sports world, starting with his own team. The Cardinals are 7-2, having won in Seattle last week and now playing the Bengals this weekend in two straight "Sunday Night Football" appearances. That game will also be the 100th game at University of Phoenix Stadium, which Bidwill spearheaded the drive to build.
Arizona not only is hosting the national championship football game, but will also host the college basketball Final Four – also at University of Phoenix Stadium – next year.
