Gunther Cunningham

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
35 260-291-1 47.19% 2-10 16.67%

Coaching Tree

Parents:

Don Coryell, Dan Henning, Frank Kush, Al Saunders, Marty Schottenheimer, Art Shell

Biography

Table of Contents

Career Summary

Gunther Cunningham was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1982 to 2016, finishing his career as the senior coaching assistant of the Detroit Lions. Over his thirty-five years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 260-291-1. He was the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1999 until the 2000 season, during which time the Chiefs went 16-16-0. During his career he was a head coach for two seasons. He was fired from the Chiefs on Saturday, January 6, 2001.

Career Awards

During the 2010 season as the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions he coached Ndamukong Suh to the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Gunther Cunningham Coaching Tree

Before he was a head coach, Cunningham served as an assistant coach for Frank Kush, Don Coryell, Al Saunders, Dan Henning, Art Shell, Marty Schottenheimer, Jeff Fisher, Dick Vermeil, Herman Edwards, Jim Schwartz, and Jim Caldwell. Five of these years were spent on Schwartz's coaching staff.

Personal Information

Cunningham was born on Wednesday, June 19, 1946. He died on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the age of 72.

History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2016 Detroit Lions Senior Coaching Assistant 9-7-0 0-1
2015 Detroit Lions Senior Coaching Assistant 7-9-0 0-0
2014 Detroit Lions Senior Coaching Assistant 11-5-0 0-1
2013 Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator 7-9-0 0-0
2012 Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator 4-12-0 0-0
2011 Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator 10-6-0 0-1
2010 Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator 6-10-0 0-0
2009 Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator 2-14-0 0-0
2008 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 2-14-0 0-0
2007 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator 4-12-0 0-0
2006 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator 9-7-0 0-1
2005 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator 10-6-0 0-0
2004 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator 7-9-0 0-0
2003 Tennessee Titans Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers Coach 12-4-0 1-1
2002 Tennessee Titans Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers Coach 11-5-0 1-1
2001 Tennessee Titans Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers Coach 7-9-0 0-0
2000 Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1999 Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach 9-7-0 0-0
1998 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator 7-9-0 0-0
1997 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 13-3-0 0-1
1996 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator 9-7-0 0-0
1995 Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator 13-3-0 0-1
1994 Los Angeles Raiders Defensive Line Coach 9-7-0 0-0
1993 Los Angeles Raiders Defensive Coordinator 10-6-0 0-1
1992 Los Angeles Raiders Defensive Coordinator 7-9-0 0-0
1991 Los Angeles Raiders Linebackers Coach 9-7-0 0-1
1990 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 6-10-0 0-0
1989 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 6-10-0 0-0
1988 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 6-10-0 0-0
1987 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 8-7-0 0-0
1986 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 4-12-0 0-0
1985 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 8-8-0 0-0
1984 Indianapolis Colts Defensive Line Coach / Linebackers Coach 4-12-0 0-0
1983 Baltimore Colts Defensive Line Coach / Linebackers Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1982 Baltimore Colts Defensive Line Coach / Linebackers Coach 0-8-1 0-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts