Gunther Cunningham coached in the NFL from 1982 to 2016, spanning 35 seasons with 6 organizations. He served as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. His roles included Senior Advisor, Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach, and Linebackers. He worked under Al Saunders, Art Shell, and Dan Henning. 1 of his former assistants went on to become NFL head coaches.

Coaching Tree

Head Coach Offense Defense Special Teams General

Career Timeline

Career History

Year	Team	Role(s)
2016	Detroit Lions	Senior Advisor under Jim Caldwell
2015	Detroit Lions	Senior Advisor under Jim Caldwell
2014	Detroit Lions	Senior Advisor under Jim Caldwell
2013	Detroit Lions	Defensive Coordinator under Jim Schwartz
2012	Detroit Lions	Defensive Coordinator under Jim Schwartz
2011	Detroit Lions	Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach under Jim Schwartz
2010	Detroit Lions	Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach under Jim Schwartz
2009	Detroit Lions	Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach under Jim Schwartz
2008	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers under Herman Edwards
2007	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator under Herman Edwards
2006	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator under Herman Edwards
2005	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator under Dick Vermeil
2004	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator under Dick Vermeil
2003	Tennessee Titans	Assistant Head Coach, Linebackers under Jeff Fisher
2002	Tennessee Titans	Assistant Head Coach, Linebackers under Jeff Fisher
2001	Tennessee Titans	Assistant Head Coach, Linebackers under Jeff Fisher
2000	Kansas City Chiefs	Head Coach HC
1999	Kansas City Chiefs	Head Coach HC
1998	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers under Marty Schottenheimer
1997	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers under Marty Schottenheimer
1996	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator under Marty Schottenheimer
1995	Kansas City Chiefs	Defensive Coordinator under Marty Schottenheimer
1994	Los Angeles Raiders	Defensive Line under Art Shell
1993	Los Angeles Raiders	Linebackers, Defensive Coordinator under Art Shell
1992	Los Angeles Raiders	Linebackers under Art Shell
1991	Los Angeles Raiders	Linebackers under Art Shell
1990	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Line under Dan Henning
1989	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Line under Dan Henning
1988	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Line under Al Saunders
1987	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Line under Al Saunders
1986	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Line under Don Coryell
1985	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Line under Don Coryell
1984	Indianapolis Colts	Defensive Line under Frank Kush
1983	Baltimore Colts	Defensive Line under Frank Kush
1982	Baltimore Colts	Defensive Line under Frank Kush

Worked Under (12)

Coach	Team	Years
Al Saunders	San Diego Chargers	2
Art Shell	Los Angeles Raiders	4
DH Dan Henning	San Diego Chargers	2
Dick Vermeil	Kansas City Chiefs	2
Don Coryell	San Diego Chargers	2
Frank Kush	Baltimore Colts	2
Frank Kush	Indianapolis Colts	1
Herman Edwards	Kansas City Chiefs	3
Jeff Fisher	Tennessee Titans	3
Jim Caldwell	Detroit Lions	3
Jim Schwartz	Detroit Lions	5
Marty Schottenheimer	Kansas City Chiefs	4

Protégés (1)

Coach	First HC Job	Year
Joe Vitt	New Orleans Saints	2012