PRESEASON EditiON - Detroit Lions

exeCutives & CoaChing
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gunther Cunningham
assistant head CoaCh/
defensive Coordinator
Year with Lions: 4
Years in NFL: 31
Cunningham is a 43-year coaching veteran on the college and
pro levels, including the past 30 seasons in the NFL. He has been a
defensive coordinator in the league for 13 seasons and a head coach
(Kansas City, 1999-2000) for two. Cunningham has also worked with
linebackers and defensive linemen for 16 of his seasons in the pros.
As a coach in the NFL, Cunningham has earned the respect of both
his peers and players for his intense and straightforward approach
to coaching. He is known as a strong motivator who emphasizes the
importance of an aggressive and hard-hitting defense. Additionally,
Cunningham also brings the elements of being a talented defensive
teacher and tactician.
lions coaching highlights:
The 2011 edition of the Detroit Lions defense excelled in two key
areas: third down efficiency and takeaways.
‣ Detroit ranked at the top of the NFL in third-down efficiency.
The Lions allowed 67 third-down conversions, which was tied
for the fewest in the League (New Orleans), and held opponents
to a third-down conversion percentage of 32.7 which was the
third-best in the NFL.
‣ The Lions’ 34 takeaways were tied for third in the NFL in 2011.
‣ They were fifth in the NFL with 21 interceptions which was also
the most by the team since it registered 25 in 2000.
‣ The defense tied for fourth in the League with 17 forced fumbles
and was third with 13 recoveries – two of which were returned
for touchdowns.
‣ On defense, the Lions scored seven return touchdowns off interception
and fumble returns which tied a single-season franchise
record that was set in 1937.
‣ Five interception return touchdowns were the second-most in
team history (six in 1967), and the Lions tied for a League high.
‣ In 2010, the Lions had one of the most improved defenses in the
NFL. Detroit was one of six teams to improve their overall total
defense ranking by 11 spots (32 in 2009 to 21 in 2010), and they
were one of just three teams to improve their pass defense by 16
(32 in 2009 to 16 in 2010).
‣ In the passing game, the defense was the most-improved unit in
the NFL in 2010, allowing 751 less yards (46.9 yards per game)
than in 2009.
‣ Detroit was also the most-improved defensive unit in the League
in points allowed in 2010 with 125 points fewer (7.8/game) than
the previous season.
‣ The Lions’ defense was the NFL’s fourth-most improved unit in
regard to total yards allowed, giving up 777 yards less than in
2009, which equates to 48.6 less yards per game.
The Lions defense has been built around young playmakers
and improved by quality veterans. Cunningham believes in putting
tremendous pressure on opponents upfront, and the team’s front
four, led by All-Pro DT Ndamukong Suh and 12-year veteran DE
Kyle Vanden Bosch, is beginning to make its mark in the League.
That unit will continue to lead the way for the Lions’ defense in the
foreseeable future.
The success by a defense many times can be measured by pressure
and turnovers. Cunningham’s defense in 2011 registered 41 sacks and
34 takeaways. These elements continue to improve as the team adds
talent to all three units on defense.
From, 2004-08, Cunningham served as the Kansas City Chiefs
defensive coordinator during his second stint with the organization.
In 2008, he also coached the team’s linebackers as the Chiefs’ defense
began a transition with six new starters and endured numerous injuries
throughout the season. From 2004-07, his imprint on the defense was
prevalent in several areas.
In 2007, Cunningham’s defense ranked in the top five in nine
different defensive categories, including a league-high in third-down
defense (30.2 pct.), negative plays forced (121) and 10+-play drives
(1). The Chiefs ranked second in allowing touchdowns on defensive
possessions (37.2 pct.) and in Red Zone defense (37.2 TD pct.). Kansas
City was third in the league by allowing just 28 offensive touchdowns,
the lowest tally for the team since 1997. The defense allowed 18.6
offensive points per game, the lowest for the Chiefs since 1999.
Overall, Kansas City’s pass defense ranked fifth in the NFL in 2007
allowing only 188.9 yards per game. They also tied for fifth in threeand-outs
forced (47) and first downs allowed (278).
After just two seasons following his return to Kansas City,
Cunningham improved the Chiefs rushing defense that ranked 30th in
the league in 2003 (146.5 yards allowed per game) to seventh in the
NFL in 2005 (98.1 yards allowed per game). The 98.1 rushing yards
allowed per game was the lowest the Chiefs yielded since 1997. In
2005, the Chiefs were ninth in Red Zone defense (46.7 TD pct.) after
ranking 27th the previous season. They also tied for the second highest
tally of forced fumbles that year with 33.
In 2004, Cunningham improved the team’s defense as Kansas City
tied for seventh in the NFL with 41.0 sacks, the club’s best total since
2000, Cunningham’s last year as Kansas City’s head coach.
Cunningham coached alongside Schwartz at Tennessee (2001-
03) under Head Coach Jeff Fisher. Cunningham served as the Titans’
assistant head coach/linebackers. In those three seasons, the Titans
defense helped the franchise earn two playoff berths. From 2001-03,
the Titans led the league in rushing yards allowed (86.5 yards per
game) and were third in opponent’s third down percentage (33.6).
In 2003, Tennessee’s defense led the NFL in both rushing defense
(80.9 yards per game) and opponent’s third-down percentage (27.7).
That year, LB Keith Bullock earned a spot in the Pro Bowl under
Cunningham’s tutelage as his position coach.
As head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1999-00,
Cunningham compiled a 16-16 (.500). In 1999, the Chiefs were 9-7
and tied with the Seattle Seahawks with the best record in the AFC
West but lost out on a playoff tie-breaker. Cunningham became the
first coach in Chiefs’ history to claim nine wins in his first season as
Chiefs’ head coach. In 1999, the Chiefs led the NFL with a +21 turnover
margin and set a team record by scoring nine defensive touchdowns.
In his two seasons, his club was 4-0 against Denver and defeated the
defending Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams October 20, 2000
54-34 in a high-scoring affair.
As defensive coordinator for the Chiefs from 1995-98, the defense
was a key cog in Kansas City compiling a 42-22 (.656) record, including
a 23-9 record (.719) against the AFC West. In those four seasons, the
Chiefs allowed a NFL-low in offensive points (16.4 points per game),
and led the league in scoring defense during the 1995 (15.1 points
per game) and 1997 (14.5 points per game) seasons. Cunningham’s
defenses were critical in Kansas City producing an AFC-best +30
turnover margin from 1995-98, as they were responsible for 127
takeaways. They also scored 77 points on 10 touchdowns and four
safeties. The Chiefs produced 172.0 sacks over those four years, a
total which ranked third in the AFC and sixth in the NFL over that span.
The 232 points allowed by the Chiefs in 1997 was a franchise record
for a 16-game season. That season, they set a NFL record, previously
held by the 1934 Detroit Lions, by not permitting a second half
touchdown in 10 consecutive games. They led the AFC in interceptions
(21) and total takeaways (34), and ranked second among NFL team
in opponents’ third-down percentage (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 ’95, Kansas City’s defense was even better in terms of actual
offensive points allowed as opposing offenses scored an average of
just 12.9 point per game, and they were ranked second in the entire
league by allowing just 284.3 yards per game. They also ranked third
in rushing defense (82.9 yards per game). Additionally, the Chiefs led
the league in scoring defense, turnover margin (+12), touchdowns
allowed (23) and yards allowed per play (4.3).
Cunningham not only has compiled great defensive units, but he
has coached and mentored several Pro Bowl and All-Pro players. He
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,