Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...

helping him earn his final Pro Bowl invitation. he also coached dE neil
smith (second in chiefs history with 86.5 sacks) and dE Jared allen,
who earned his first spot in the Pro Bowl after the 2007 season when
he led the league in sacks with 15.5. another defensive linemen who
excelled under cunningham was dt dan saleaumua. he was named
to the Pro Bowl in 1995 after anchoring the team’s defensive front.
in the secondary, cB dale carter and cB James hasty were
the most formidable cornerback tandem in chiefs history, as they
combined for six Pro Bowl berths, and each intercepted 21 passes.
Prior to his arrival in Kansas city, cunningham spent four seasons
(1991-94) with the Los angeles Raiders, as linebackers coach (1991),
defensive coordinator (1992-93) and defensive line coach (1994).
as the Raiders defensive coordinator, his defense ranked ninth in
the nFL both seasons, and they allowed a nFL-low 11 touchdown
passes in 1992.
cunningham was the san diego chargers defensive line coach for
six seasons (1985-90) after originally being hired by the team’s player
personnel department. during those six seasons, the chargers led the
aFc in sacks three times and garnered a club record 62.0 in 1986. as
the defensive line coach, he developed dE Lee Williams and dE Leslie
o’neil into Pro Bowl players.
in 1982, cunningham entered the nFL coaching ranks when he
joined the Baltimore colts coaching staff, learning from the late Bud
carson. he was the team’s defensive line/linebackers from 1982-84.
his previous pro coaching experience was with the defensive line/
linebackers coach for the cFL’s hamilton tiger-cats in 1981 with head
coach Frank Kush who also hired cunningham in Baltimore.
as a college coach, cunningham’s last stop was at california.
cunningham coached the Bears defensive line from 1979-80, the
linebackes in 1978 and secondary in 1977.
Prior his stop in Berkeley, cunningham coached at the stanford
cardinal from 1973-76. he was hired by head coach Jack christensen,
a hall of Fame defensive back for the detroit Lions in the 1950s and a
member of the Lions 75th season all-time team. While at stanford,
he coached the defensive line from 1974-76 and was the assistant
offensive line and freshmen coach during his first year in 1973.
cunningham worked at the university of arkansas in 1972
on a staff headed by Frank Broyles that included Joe gibbs and
Raymond Berry.
in 1969, cunningham began his coaching career at the university of
oregon, his alma mater. he was with the ducks program for three years
from 1969-71 where he began his longtime relationship with another
noted defensive coach, george seifert. cunningham was a graduate of
oregon and was a linebacker and kicker for the ducks from 1966-68.
cunningham played his prep football at Lompoc high school in
Lompoc, california. he was then recruited to play at allan hancock
college by hall of Fame coach John Madden. Madden left the school
prior to cunningham’s freshman year and was replaced as head coach
by Ernie Zampese.
cunningham, who became a naturalized u.s. citizen on april 6,
2010, is just one of four foreign-born individuals in league history to
ever serve as an nFL head coach, joining hugo Bezdek (cleveland
Rams, 1937-38), Jock sutherland (Pittsburgh, 1946-47) and al
saunders (san diego, 1986-88). Born in Munich, germany, he moved to
greenfield, Mass., at the age of 10 in 1956 with his mother Katharina
and his adoptive father, air Force sergeant garner cunningham.
cunningham and his wife, René, have two children, natalie and
adam.
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CUNNINGHAM’S BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions .......................................................................... 2009assistant
head coach/defensive coordinator .....................................2009-
Kansas City Chiefs ...............................................................2004-08
defensive coordinator/Linebackers ..........................................................2008
defensive coordinator ........................................................................... 2004-07
Tennessee Titans ................................................................ 2001-03
assistant head coach/Linebackers ................................................... 2001-03
Kansas City Chiefs ...........................................................1995-2000
head coach ..........................................................................................1999-2000
defensive coordinator ..................................................................................1998
defensive coordinator/Linebackers ..........................................................1997
defensive coordinator ........................................................................... 1995-96
Los Angeles Raiders ........................................................... 1991-94
defensive Line ................................................................................................1994
defensive coordinator ........................................................................... 1992-93
Linebackers ....................................................................................................1991
San Diego Chargers .............................................................1985-90
defensive Line ......................................................................................... 1985-90
Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts ................................................1982-84
defensive Line/Linebackers ................................................................. 1982-84
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) ........................................................1981
defensive Line/Linebackers ........................................................................1981
California ............................................................................1977-80
defensive coordinator/defensive Line .............................................. 1979-80
Linebackers ....................................................................................................1978
defensive Backs ............................................................................................1977
Stanford............................................................................. 1973-76
defensive Line ......................................................................................... 1974-76
assistant offensive Line/Freshmen ..........................................................1973
Arkansas..................................................................................1972
defensive Line ................................................................................................1972
Oregon ............................................................................... 1969-71
defensive Line ......................................................................................... 1969-71