Lomax: The Last Gunslinger of St. Louis

Gateway Sports
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St. Louis LEGEND SERIES

“Lomax: The Last Gunslinger of St. Louis”

By Gateway Sports Staff

Before the desert years… before the relocation… There was a quarterback who defined an era of St. Louis football toughness, grit, and air-it-out aggression — Neil Lomax.

From 1981 to 1988, Lomax stood tall in the pocket as the face of the St. Louis Cardinals, delivering one of the most prolific passing stretches in franchise history — all while wearing what many still call the only correct Cardinals uniform: red tops, white pants, and unmistakable attitude.

FROM PORTLAND STATE TO PRO BALLER

Lomax arrived in the NFL as a second-round pick (33rd overall) in 1981, fresh off a legendary college career at Portland State. His résumé already turned heads — including a jaw-dropping 7-touchdown quarter in a 105–0 rout of Delaware State.

Thrown into action early after a Week 1 injury to veteran Jim Hart, Lomax’s rookie season became a trial by fire. While the numbers were modest, flashes of brilliance hinted at what was coming.

THE RISE OF A FRANCHISE QB

By 1983, Lomax had taken control.

1983: 2,636 yards, 24 TDs
1984: 4,614 yards, 28 TDs 🔥 (Pro Bowl)
1987: 3,387 yards, 24 TDs (Pro Bowl)

His 1984 season remains legendary — a then-franchise benchmark that still ranks among the top passing seasons in NFL history. Lomax turned the Cardinals into an aerial threat, fearlessly attacking defenses week after week.

Despite his production, playoff success proved elusive — a frustrating theme during his tenure.

TOUGHNESS DEFINED HIS CAREER

Lomax wasn’t just a passer — he was durable, gritty, and relentless. He played through injuries, including a shoulder issue in 1983 that sidelined him early in the season. Yet he consistently returned, producing and leading.

Even during the turbulent 1987 strike season, Lomax delivered another Pro Bowl campaign, proving his consistency amid chaos.

THE END OF AN ERA

The Cardinals’ move to Phoenix in 1988 marked a turning point — not just for the franchise, but for Lomax himself.

A debilitating hip condition forced him out before the 1989 season. By January 1990, at just 30 years old, his career was over.

A year later, he underwent hip replacement surgery — a stark reminder of the physical toll he endured.

BY THE NUMBERS

22,771 passing yards
136 touchdowns
1,818 completions
108 games played
Record: 47–51–2

Lomax finished second only to Jim Hart in most major Cardinals passing categories — but for many fans, he was the quarterback of that era.

LEGACY: UNDERAPPRECIATED, UNFORGOTTEN

Neil Lomax didn’t get the playoff runs or the national spotlight of other quarterbacks of his time.

In St. Louis, he was something else entirely:

👉 A gunslinger👉 A leader👉 A symbol of Cardinals football before the move, and for those who watched him in that classic red uniform, he remains one of the most underrated quarterbacks of the 1980s.

🗞️ “He didn’t just play the position — he carried a franchise.”