In five seasons in the NFL, Lisch only managed one touchdown versus 11 interceptions, and ended his career with a 25.1 passer rating.
He completed six of 17 passes for 68 yards in the second half of a season-ending 31–7 loss to the Washington Redskins at Busch Memorial Stadium on December 21, 1980.
With the Cardinals out of playoff contention again, and injuries to Ken Greene and Roy Green, Lisch was pressed into service as a free safety in the last three games of the 1981 campaign; despite having previously never played the position, he agreed with head coach Jim Hanifan and Cardinals coaching staff that this situation was better than being inactive on the sidelines.
With Neil O'Donoghue's extra point, the Redskins' lead was cut to 31-14 – late in the contest.One year later, with both Jim McMahon and Steve Fuller injured, Lisch started a game for the Bears against Green Bay, but played so poorly that coach Mike Ditka berated Lisch before benching him late in the first half; Ditka inserted running back Walter Payton at quarterback.
On the subsequent flight home, Lisch, a religious man, was reading the Bible when Ditka walked up and told him, "I hope there is something in that book about job opportunities, because you'll need one on Monday.