Cardinals No. 22 history gets a long look as the 2025 season opener against the Saints nears, with Michael Carter wearing 22 in Arizona and spotlighting a lineage that stretches back to Eddie Anderson in the 1920s. The list runs through Emmitt Smith in 2003-2004, Tony Jefferson in 2013-2016, and Roger Wehrli, the Hall of Famer regarded as the best to ever wear 22 for the Cardinals. The countdown frames a roster-tenure narrative across decades, tying past greats to the present backfield battle.

Wehrli stands as the standout, but the piece emphasizes the broad tapestry of players who have slung, caught, or carried No. 22 in Cardinals lore, culminating in a reflection that the number has carried different meanings across eras—from stalwart defenders to breakout backs. The feature closes by plugging Cards Wire’s Rise Up, See Red podcast for more Cardinals and NFL coverage.