Professional Bio

27th Year NFL Coach • 11th with Chiefs

Gunther Cunningham enters his 27th season as an NFL coach in 2008 and his 11th year as a member of the Chiefs organization. The 2008 campaign marks Cunningham’s eighth season as the club’s defensive coordinator, the most years of service in that capacity of any assistant coach in Kansas City history. Cunningham is also the only offensive or defensive coordinator in franchise annals to hold such a position for three different Chiefs head coaches.

Cunningham also takes on the additional responsibilities as the Chiefs linebackers coach in 2008. He previously served in a dual capacity as defensive coordinator/LBs coach in ‘97 when Kansas City produced one of its finest defensive seasons in franchise history. He has also enjoyed stints coaching linebackers with the Colts, Raiders and Titans.

Now in his third season serving under head coach Herm Edwards, this pair of like-minded, high-energy coaches will continue their quest to return the Chiefs to NFL prominence in 2008. This respected defensive duo shares several other notable commonalities, such as working in player personnel capacities before eventually becoming NFL head coaches.

In fact, Edwards and Cunningham originally served together with the Chiefs in ‘95 when the current Chiefs head coach was a pro personnel scout. Edwards and Cunningham were both raised in the disciplined environment of military households, sharing the distinction of being the sons of American servicemen and German mothers.

Kansas City continued its defensive ascent under Edwards and Cunningham a year ago, leading the NFL in third-down defense (30.2%) and negative plays forced (121), while allowing a league-low one TD drive of 10 plays or more. In total, the Chiefs ranked among the NFL’s top five in nine different key defensive categories in 2007.

The Chiefs were especially stingy in terms of scoring defense a year ago. Kansas City ranked second in the league, permitting TDs on just 14.5 percent of its defensive possessions and also ranked second in Red Zone defense (37.2 TD percentage). Kansas City tied for third in the league by allowing only 28 offensive TDs, the club’s best showing in that category since ‘97. Excluding opponents’ return scores, the Chiefs defense gave up 18.6 offensive ppg, the club’s lowest mark since ‘99.

Kansas City’s pass defense ranked fifth in the league in 2007 (188.9 ypg). The Chiefs also tied for fifth in the NFL by forcing 47 three-and-outs and permitting 278 first downs.

Long regarded as one of the league’s most talented defensive teachers and tacticians, Cunningham came back to Kansas City in 2004 after previously serving as the Chiefs head coach from ‘99-00 and enjoying a record-setting four-year stint as the club’s defensive coordinator from ‘95-98. Cunningham rejoined the Chiefs after spending three seasons as assistant head coach/linebackers coach working with head coach Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans from 2001-03.

Throughout his 39-year coaching career this fiery motivator has earned the admiration of his troops with a fiercely demanding, yet honest and up-front demeanor. His aggressive and hard-hitting defensive approach has earned him the respect of both his players and his adversaries, alike.

In 2005, Cunningham continued the process of restoring Kansas City’s proud defensive tradition. After inheriting a squad that ranked 30th in rushing defense by allowing 146.5 yards per game in 2003, Kansas City ranked seventh in the NFL in that area during the 2005 campaign, allowing just 98.1 yards per game, the club’s best mark since ‘97.

Kansas City was ninth in the NFL in Red Zone defense in 2005, allowing TDs on just 46.7 percent of opponents’ Red Zone drives after ranking 27th in that category just a year earlier. Kansas City’s defense was also opportunistic, tying for the second-highest tally in the league with 33 forced fumbles.

The Chiefs began their defensive resurgence under Cunningham in 2004. Kansas City tied for seventh in the league with 41.0 sacks, the club’s best total since 2000 when Cunningham served as head coach.

During his stint in Tennessee, the Titans twice reached the playoffs, including an AFC Championship Game berth in 2002 as the team ranked among the league’s top five in rushing defense each of his three seasons with the club. In 2003, Tennessee’s defense led the NFL in both rushing defense (80.9 ypg) and third-down defense (27.7%). Titans LB Keith Bulluck earned a Pro Bowl berth with Cunningham serving as his position coach in 2003.

Kansas City compiled a 16-16 (.500) record during Cunningham’s tenure as the club’s head coach, including a 9-7 mark in ‘99 when Kansas City barely missed the playoffs after tying for the best record in the AFC West with Seattle. He became the first coach in team history to register nine wins in his initial season with the franchise. Other highlights of Cunningham’s head coaching tenure included a perfect 4-0 record vs. Denver and a 54-34 victory over defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis (10/20/00). Kansas City led the NFL with a +21 turnover ratio in ‘99 and set a team record by scoring nine defensive TDs.

With Cunningham serving as defensive coordinator from ‘95-98, the Chiefs registered a 42-22 (.656) record, including a 23-9 (.719) mark against the AFC West. Over that span Kansas City’s defense allowed an NFL-low 1,050 offensive points (excluding opponents’ defensive and special teams scores), an average of 16.4 ppg. Kansas City led the NFL in scoring defense twice during that span, allowing only 14.5 ppg in ‘97 and 15.1 ppg in ‘95. The 232 total points permitted by the Chiefs in ‘97 were the lowest tally ever allowed in a 16-game season in team history. In ‘95, Kansas City’s defense was even better in terms of actual offensive points allowed as opposing offenses scored only 206 points that season, an average of just 12.9 ppg.

From ‘95-98, Cunningham’s squads were also opportunistic, producing an AFC-best +30 takeaway/giveaway ratio, accumulating 127 takeaways and scoring 77 points on 10 TDs and four safeties. His defenses produced 172.0 sacks over those four years, a total which ranked third in the AFC and sixth in the NFL over that span.

In ‘97, the Chiefs broke a 63-year-old mark owned by the ‘34 Detroit Lions by not permitting a second-half touchdown in 10 consecutive games. That ‘97 Chiefs defense led the AFC in interceptions (21) and total takeaways (34), while ranking second in the NFL in third-down defense (31.6%). Kansas City’s 54.0 sacks in ‘97 were the second-highest total in team history, leading the AFC and ranking third in the NFL.

In addition to leading the league in scoring defense, the ‘95 Chiefs defense also ranked first in the NFL in turnover ratio (+12), touchdowns allowed (23) and yards per play (4.3). Kansas City also topped the AFC and ranked second in the league in total defense, permitting an average of just 284.3 yards per game, while ranking third in the NFL in rushing defense in ‘95, permitting 82.9 yards per game.

Cunningham has presided over a litany of prestigious pass rushers and Pro Bowl performers. DE Jared Allen became the latest member of that All-Star lineage after registering a league-high 15.5 sacks en route to his initial Pro Bowl berth in 2007.

This longtime defensive guru has shared a special bond as a mentor to the late, great nine-time Pro Bowl LB Derrick Thomas, who concluded his illustrious career as the all-time leading sack artist in Chiefs history with 126.5 QB takedowns. Cunningham served as Thomas’ position coach in ‘97, helping the Chiefs Hall of Fame enshrinee earn his final Pro Bowl invitation. Cunningham also coached DE Neil Smith, who ranks second in franchise history with 86.5 sacks, and like Thomas, is a member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame.

CBs Dale Carter and James Hasty formed one of the most formidable cornerback tandems in Chiefs history, combining for six Pro Bowl berths and 21 INTs apiece. DT Dan Saleaumua earned Pro Bowl accolades in ‘95 after anchoring the Chiefs defensive front.

Cunningham joined the Chiefs after spending four seasons (’91-94) with the Raiders. He served as that club’s defensive coordinator in ‘92 and ‘93 in addition to tutoring the club’s defensive line (’94), as well as coaching the Raiders linebackers (’91). During both his seasons as the Raiders defensive coordinator, his defense ranked ninth in the NFL. In addition, the Raiders allowed an NFL-low 11 TD passes in ‘92.

Prior to that, he spent six seasons as a mentor for the San Diego Chargers defensive line (’85-90) after originally being hired to work in the club’s personnel department. During his stint with San Diego, the Chargers led the AFC in sacks three times, including a franchise-record 62.0 sacks in ‘86. During his tenure coaching San Diego’s defensive front, DEs Lee Williams and Leslie O’Neal developed into two of the league’s finest pass rushers, with both players earning a pair of Pro Bowl berths under his watchful eye.

Cunningham began his NFL career coaching the defensive line for the Baltimore Colts in ‘82, learning the trade under one of the league’s finest defensive minds, the late Bud Carson. Cunningham stayed in that capacity with the club through the Colts ‘84 season in Indianapolis. He originally entered the pro ranks coaching the defensive line and linebackers for the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in ‘81 before moving along with head coach Frank Kush to the NFL ranks the next year.

A graduate of the University of Oregon where he was a linebacker and kicker from ‘66-68, Cunningham embarked on a coaching career at his alma mater the next season. It was at Oregon where he began his longtime relationship with another noted defensive coach, George Seifert, who was a member of the Oregon staff from ‘67-71. Cunningham tutored the Ducks defensive line for three seasons (’69-71) before moving on to the University of Arkansas (’72). From ‘73-76 he coached at Stanford University, before making his final stop in the collegiate ranks at the University of California, where he coached the secondary in ‘77 and the linebackers in ‘78. He served as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach in his last two seasons with the Bears (’79-80).

Cunningham played his prep football at Lompoc High School in Lompoc, California. He was then recruited to play at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California 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 is just one of four foreign-born individuals in league history to ever serve as an NFL head coach, joining Hugo Bezdek (Cleveland Rams - ‘37-38), Jock Sutherland (Pittsburgh - ‘46-47) and Al Saunders (San Diego - ‘86-88). Born in Munich, Germany, he moved to Greenfield, Massachusetts at the age of 10 in ‘56 with his mother Katharina and his adoptive father, Air Force Sergeant Garner Cunningham.

Personal Bio

Education: ­University of Oregon (B.S. ‘68). Born: Munich, Germany. Family: Wife - René; Children - Natalie and Adam.