Luis Sharpe #67 of the Phoenix Cardinals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Now that the NFL draft and free agency has basically concluded, it becomes the annual renewal for fans, coaches, and the front office of the Arizona Cardinals. The newness is apparent as new players are brought in to replace the stagnant situation that plagued last year’s roster.

The new schedule is down the road and will display where the Cardinals will play each week, which instills a renewal of hope for the upcoming year.

The national honoring of our mothers and fathers in May and June is a stark reminder of people in our lives that we have lost over time.

Every calendar year, fans and teammates experience the unfortunate reality that our heroes don’t live forever. NFL brethren pass away. Just as our heroes are celebrated in life, here is a snapshot of several former Cardinals who passed from this earth in 2025.

DE Sebastian Barrie

Age: 55

Passing date: July

Career: Green Bay Packers 1992, San Francisco 49ers 1994, Cardinals 1994, San Diego Chargers 1995, Philadelphia Eagles 1996, Albany Firebirds 1997, Arizona Rattlers 1999-2003, San Jose Sabercats 2004-2005

Barrie grew up in the Dallas area and then played for Liberty University. He went undrafted in the 1992 NFL draft and then signed with the Green Bay Packers, where he played in three games with zero starts. He sat out the 1994 season and then landed with San Fran, who placed him on their practice squad. The Cardinals claimed him, and he played 10 games with six tackles.

After being released, he latched on with the Chargers and played in seven games plus a playoff game. Again, he was released, signed with the Eagles, and was cut again. He found a decent career in the Arena Football League with three clubs, including the Arizona Rattlers, playing under head coach Danny White.

He died July 31 after a bout with cancer.

RB Willis Crenshaw

Age: 84

Passing date: October

Career: Cardinals 1964-1969, Denver Broncos 1970, New England Patriots 1971

Crenshaw was a track star in high school in the pole vault. He played receiver for the football team and was All-State. He chose Kansas State from a long list of interested programs. He was selected in the ninth round by the Cardinals of the 1963 NFL draft and in Round 26 of the AFL draft.

He backed up Joe Crenshaw at fullback with John David Crow in the backfield. In his second season, he started 12 of 14 games. In 1968, he had a career high in rushing with 813 yards and six touchdowns. Crenshaw played for St. Louis for six years before being traded to the Denver Broncos for the 1970 season.

LB Doug Eggers

Age: 94

Passing date: June

Career: Baltimore Colts 1954-1957, Cardinals 1958

Eggers played three sports in high school and was good in them all: basketball, football, and track. He went to South Dakota State and was a three-year starter on the football team. He was voted as captain and was selected First Team All-North Central Conference. He went undrafted in the 1952 NFL draft, but was drafted by the U.S. Army. He played two seasons at Fort Belvoir in Virginia under head coach Al Davis. After his Army stint, Davis got Eggers a tryout with the Eagles and Baltimore Colts. He signed with Baltimore with a bonus of $500 and played for four years and 46 games.

He was known as a vicious hitter and became quick friends with QB Johnny Unitas. He played one season with the Cardinals, and then signed with the upstart Oakland Raiders of the brand new AFL, but decided to remain in Baltimore, where he had a home. He then started a company called Chesapeake Supply and Equipment Company, which remains in business today.

Eggers was inducted into the South Dakota State Jackrabbit Sports Hall of Fame (1980), the Wagner High School Athletic Hall of Fame (2019), plus the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame (2021).

CB Robert Giblin

Age: 72

Passing date: February

Career: New York Football Giants 1975, Cardinals (1977)

Giblin grew up in Texas and then played college ball at the University of Houston, where he earned First Team All-American honors. The Giants selected him in the fourth round of the 1975 NFL draft, where he played in all 12 games with zero starts. After sitting out a year, he signed with the Cardinals and played in 11 games.

He then went into business as an attorney at a prominent Southeast Texas law firm. He passed away after a long battle with an autoimmune illness. He had chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or CIDP.

QB/RB Ken Hall

Age: 89

Passing date: March

Career: Edmonton Eskimos 1957-1958, Cardinals 1959, Houston Oilers 1960-1961, Cardinals 1961

Hall was nicknamed the “Sugar Land Express” when he was a sensation in high school in Texas. He set 17 national high school records, several of which still stand. Name a major college program, and they contacted Hall. He chose Texas A&M, whose head coach was Bear Bryant.

Hall’s college production did not come close to his success at the high school level. He was drafted in Round 14 of the 1958 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts but never played for them. Instead, Hall left school a year early and signed with Edmonton of the CFL, where he played for two seasons. He then signed with the Cardinals and played in all 12 games with two starts at running back. He had a 5.8 yards per attempt average.

In 1961, he landed with the Houston Oilers for three games and finished out the season back with the Cardinals for eight contests. He was listed as the third-highest kickoff return yardage (65.33) when he hung up his cleats.

Hall was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame (1983), Texas High School Football Hall of Fame (1994), and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1999). The All-American Games created the “Hall Trophy,” presented annually to a national high school football player.

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