2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE
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Suh (2011, 2012, 2014) and DT Nick Fairley (2014<br />
alternate). He has shared a special bond as a<br />
mentor to the late, great nine-time Pro Bowl LB<br />
Derrick Thomas, who concluded his illustrious<br />
career as the all-time leading sack artist in Chiefs<br />
history with 126.5 QB takedowns. Cunningham<br />
served as Thomas’ position coach in 1997, helping<br />
him earn his final Pro Bowl invitation. He also<br />
coached DE Neil Smith (second in Chiefs history<br />
with 86.5 sacks) and DE Jared Allen, who earned<br />
his first spot in the Pro Bowl after the 2007 season<br />
when he led the League in sacks with 15.5.<br />
Prior to his arrival in Kansas City, Cunningham<br />
spent four seasons (1991-94) with the Los Angeles<br />
Raiders, as linebackers coach (1991), defensive<br />
coordinator (1992-93) and defensive line coach<br />
(1994). He was also the San Diego Chargers<br />
defensive line coach for six seasons (1985-90)<br />
after originally being hired by the team’s player<br />
personnel department.<br />
In 1982, Cunningham entered the NFL coaching<br />
ranks when he joined the Baltimore Colts coaching<br />
staff as the team’s defensive line/linebackers coach<br />
from 1982-84, learning from the late Bud Carson.<br />
Before entering the NFL ranks, his previous pro<br />
coaching experience was as the defensive line/<br />
linebackers coach for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats<br />
in 1981 with head coach Frank Kush, who also hired<br />
Cunningham in Baltimore.<br />
As a college coach, Cunningham’s last stop<br />
was at California, where he coached the Bears<br />
defensive line from 1979-80, the linebackers in 1978<br />
and secondary in 1977. Prior his stop in Berkeley,<br />
Cunningham coached at Stanford from 1973-76. He<br />
was hired by head coach Jack Christensen, a Hall<br />
of Fame defensive back for the Detroit Lions in<br />
the 1950s and a member of the Lions 75th Season<br />
All-time Team. While at Stanford, he coached the<br />
defensive line from 1974-76 and was the assistant<br />
offensive line and freshmen coach during his first<br />
year in 1973.<br />
Cunningham worked at the University of<br />
Arkansas in 1972 on a staff headed by Frank Broyles<br />
that included Joe Gibbs and Raymond Berry. Prior<br />
to that, Cunningham began his coaching career at<br />
the University of Oregon, his alma mater, in 1969.<br />
He was with the Ducks program for three years from<br />
1969-71 where he began his longtime relationship<br />
with another noted defensive coach, George Seifert.<br />
Cunningham was a graduate of Oregon and was a<br />
linebacker and kicker for the Ducks from 1966-68.<br />
After playing his prep football at Lompoc High<br />
School in Lompoc, California, he was then recruited<br />
to play at Allan Hancock College by Hall of Fame<br />
coach John Madden. Madden left the school prior<br />
to Cunningham’s freshman year and was replaced<br />
as head coach by Ernie Zampese.<br />
Cunningham, who became a naturalized U.S.<br />
citizen on April 6, 2010, is just one of four foreignborn<br />
individuals in League history to ever serve as<br />
an NFL head coach, joining Hugo Bezdek (Cleveland<br />
Rams, 1937-38), Jock Sutherland (Pittsburgh,<br />
1946-47) and Al Saunders (San Diego, 1986-88).<br />
Born in Munich, Germany, he moved to Greenfield,<br />
Mass., at the age of 10 in 1956 with his mother,<br />
Katharina, and his adoptive father, Air Force<br />
Sergeant Garner Cunningham.<br />
Cunningham was born June 19, 1946. He and his<br />
wife, René, have two children, Natalie and Adam.<br />
<strong>DETROIT</strong> <strong>LIONS</strong><br />
CUNNINGHAM’S COACHING BACKGROUND<br />
Detroit Lions................................................. 2009-<br />
Senior Coaching Assistant..........................................2014<br />
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator.2009-13<br />
Kansas City Chiefs......................................2004-08<br />
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers..........................2008<br />
Defensive Coordinator........................................... 2004-07<br />
Tennessee Titans........................................2001-03<br />
Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers................... 2001-03<br />
Kansas City Chiefs..................................1995-2000<br />
Head Coach..........................................................1999-2000<br />
Defensive Coordinator..................................................1998<br />
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers..........................1997<br />
Defensive Coordinator........................................... 1995-96<br />
Los Angeles Raiders...................................1991-94<br />
Defensive Line...............................................................1994<br />
Defensive Coordinator........................................... 1992-93<br />
Linebackers....................................................................1991<br />
San Diego Chargers....................................1985-90<br />
Defensive Line........................................................ 1985-90<br />
Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts.......................1982-84<br />
Defensive Line/Linebackers................................. 1982-84<br />
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)...............................1981<br />
Defensive Line/Linebackers........................................1981<br />
California...................................................1977-80<br />
Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line.............. 1979-80<br />
Linebackers....................................................................1978<br />
Defensive Backs............................................................1977<br />
Stanford....................................................1973-76<br />
Defensive Line........................................................ 1974-76<br />
Assistant Offensive Line/Freshmen..........................1973<br />
Arkansas.........................................................................1972<br />
Defensive Line...............................................................1972<br />
Oregon.......................................................1969-71<br />
Defensive Line........................................................ 1969-71<br />
DEVIN<br />
FITZSIMMONS<br />
Assistant Special Teams<br />
Years with Lions: 2<br />
Years in NFL: 3<br />
After serving as special teams coordinator/tight<br />
ends coach at the University of Delaware in 2013,<br />
Devin Fitzsimmons joined the NFL coaching realm<br />
in 2014 as the Lions assistant special teams coach<br />
and returns for his second year with the team this<br />
season. Fitzsimmons earned his NFL start in 2011<br />
while with the Indianapolis Colts as the team’s<br />
offensive quality control coach.<br />
<strong>LIONS</strong> COACHING HIGHLIGHTS<br />
‣ ¾ Second-year P Sam Martin finished the 2014<br />
season ranking in the Top-10 for net punting<br />
average for the second-consecutive season<br />
as he ranked ninth (40.1). Martin now holds<br />
the Lions’ Top-2 single-season records for net<br />
punting average with a 40.4 in 2013 and 40.1 in<br />
2014. He also holds two of the Top-6 spots for<br />
gross punting average.<br />
‣ ¾ On kickoffs, Martin was among the NFL’s best in<br />
preventing opponent returns with touchbacks as<br />
he finished the season tied for fifth in percentage<br />
of touchbacks on kickoffs (71.6-percent).<br />
‣ ¾ Fitzsimmons and the Lions special teams unit<br />
displayed their knack for play-calling in Week<br />
10 vs. Miami (11/9) as Martin completed two<br />
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING
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