Al Saunders
Coaching Record
| Years Coached | Record | Win % | Playoff record | Playoff win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 277-296-2 | 48.35% | 8-12 | 40.00% |
Coaching Tree
Parents:
Children:
Gunther Cunningham, Jim L. Mora (Jr.)
Biography
Career Summary
Al Saunders was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1983 to 2018, finishing his career as the special projects/senior assistant coach of the Cleveland Browns. Over his thirty-six years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 277-296-2. He was the head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 1987 until the 1988 season, during which time the Chargers went 14-17-0. During his career he was a head coach for two seasons. He was fired from the Chargers on Tuesday, December 20, 1988.
Career Awards
During his time as interim head coach and offensive coordinator he coached two players to award-winning seasons. As the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs Priest Holmes won AP Offensive Player of the Year. As the interim head coach for the Chargers Leslie O'Neal won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Al Saunders Coaching Tree
Before he was a head coach, Saunders served as an assistant coach for Don Coryell, Marty Schottenheimer, Dick Vermeil, Mike Martz, Joe Gibbs, Scott Linehan, John Harbaugh, Hue Jackson, Dennis Allen, and Joe Philbin. Ten of these years were spent on Schottenheimer's coaching staff. During his time as head coach, two assistant coaches, (Gunther Cunningham and Jim L. Mora (Jr.)) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 47-49-0 in the regular season and 1-1 in the playoffs during their six seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs.
Personal Information
Saunders was born on Saturday, February 1, 1947.
History
| Year | Position | Record | Playoff record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Cleveland Browns | Special Projects / Senior Assistant Coach | 7-8-1 | 0-0 |
| 2017 Cleveland Browns | Wide Receivers Coach / Senior Offensive Assistant Coach | 0-16-0 | 0-0 |
| 2016 Cleveland Browns | Wide Receivers Coach / Senior Offensive Assistant Coach | 1-15-0 | 0-0 |
| 2015 Miami Dolphins | Senior Offensive Assistant Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 2014 Oakland Raiders | Senior Offensive Assistant Coach | 3-13-0 | 0-0 |
| 2013 Oakland Raiders | Senior Offensive Assistant Coach | 4-12-0 | 0-0 |
| 2012 Oakland Raiders | Senior Offensive Assistant Coach | 4-12-0 | 0-0 |
| 2011 Oakland Raiders | Offensive Coordinator | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 2010 Baltimore Ravens | Senior Offensive Assistant Coach | 12-4-0 | 1-1 |
| 2009 Baltimore Ravens | Offensive Consultant | 9-7-0 | 1-1 |
| 2008 St. Louis Rams | Offensive Coordinator | 2-14-0 | 0-0 |
| 2007 Washington Redskins | Associate Head Coach / Offensive Assistant Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-1 |
| 2006 Washington Redskins | Associate Head Coach / Offensive Assistant Coach | 5-11-0 | 0-0 |
| 2005 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator | 10-6-0 | 0-0 |
| 2004 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2003 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator | 13-3-0 | 0-1 |
| 2002 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 2001 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 2000 St. Louis Rams | Associate Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 10-6-0 | 0-1 |
| 1999 St. Louis Rams | Associate Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 13-3-0 | 3-0 |
| 1998 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 1997 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 13-3-0 | 0-1 |
| 1996 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 1995 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 13-3-0 | 0-1 |
| 1994 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-1 |
| 1993 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 11-5-0 | 2-1 |
| 1992 Kansas City Chiefs | Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach | 10-6-0 | 0-1 |
| 1991 Kansas City Chiefs | Wide Receivers Coach | 10-6-0 | 1-1 |
| 1990 Kansas City Chiefs | Wide Receivers Coach | 11-5-0 | 0-1 |
| 1989 Kansas City Chiefs | Wide Receivers Coach | 8-7-1 | 0-0 |
| 1988 San Diego Chargers | Head Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 1987 San Diego Chargers | Head Coach | 8-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 1986 San Diego Chargers | Assistant Head Coach | 1-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 1986 San Diego Chargers | Interim Head Coach / Assistant Head Coach | 3-5-0 | 0-0 |
| 1985 San Diego Chargers | Assistant Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 1984 San Diego Chargers | Wide Receivers Coach | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 1983 San Diego Chargers | Wide Receivers Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
Coach history guide
| Seasons with a championship win | Seasons with a conference championship |
Coach facts
- Years as head coach: 2
- Named the interim head coach during the 1986 season for the San Diego Chargers
- Years as a coordinator: 7
- Championships won: 1999
- Conference Championships won: 1999
- Past teams coached for: Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
- College Attended: San Jose State Spartans
- Date of Birth: Saturday, February 1, 1947 (77 years old)