 Cunningham in 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 52 – Detroit Lions | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||||
| Roster status |  Injured reserve | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1994-12-02)December 2, 1994 (age 30) Pinson, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Pinson Valley | ||||||||||||||||
| College | Vanderbilt (2013–2016) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2017: 2nd round, 57th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Zachary Daniel Cunningham (born December 2, 1994) is an American professionalfootballlinebacker for theDetroit Lions of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theVanderbilt Commodores and was selected in the second round of the2017 NFL draft by theHouston Texans. He also played for theTennessee Titans,Philadelphia Eagles, andDenver Broncos.
Cunningham attendedPinson Valley High School inPinson, Alabama. During hishigh school football career, he had 448tackles, including 194 as a senior.[1] He committed toVanderbilt University to playcollege football.[2][3]
After not playing during his first year at Vanderbilt in 2013, Cunningham played in 11 games as aredshirt freshman in 2014, recording 67 tackles and 1.5sacks.[4] As a redshirt sophomore in 2015, he played in all 12 games with nine starts. He finished the year with 103 tackles and 4.5 sacks and was named first-teamAll-Southeastern Conference (SEC).[5][6][7] In 2016, Cunningham became the firstunanimous All-American in school history and was the seventh to earn the All-American honors overall.[8] He was a finalist for theButkus Award as the nation's top linebacker.[9]
Cunningham had an SEC-best 119 total tackles, which ranked 11th overall nationally. He also registered 16.5 tackles for loss, finishing second in the SEC and 22nd nationally, along with four fumble recoveries, which tied for second nationally, just one behind the leader. Cunningham played his best games against SEC opponents, as he posted 89 total tackles, 51 solo tackles and 12 tackles for loss against SEC foes. He also had some of the best individual plays in those games, including a big fourth down tackle to end Georgia's game ending drive in the Commodores' win in Athens. Cunningham made another huge, nationally-recognized play in the fourth quarter of Vanderbilt's game against Auburn, when he perfectly timed a leap over Auburn's left guard as the ball was snapped on a field goal attempt, allowing him to arrive in the backfield at the same time as the ball, which Cunningham then blocked the field goal to preserve Vanderbilt's chances to win with less than 2:00 minutes remaining in the contest. A late interception by Auburn preserved the Tigers' victory, but Cunningham's leap was named Top Ten Play of the Day byESPN.
Cunningham received an invitation to theNFL Combine and completed all of the combine and positional drills. He also participated in Vanderbilt'sPro Day and opted to only run positional drills for representatives and scouts in attendance. He attended private workouts with three NFL teams: theDenver Broncos,Pittsburgh Steelers, andJacksonville Jaguars.[10]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Zach Cunningham's NFL Combine Workout | |
| Zach Cunningham runs the 40-yard dash |
At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Cunningham was projected to be a first or second round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked the third best linebacker prospect in the draft bySports Illustrated, the third best outside linebacker by NFL analystBucky Brooks, the fourth best outside linebacker by NFLDraftScout.com, the fourth best linebacker by NFL analystMike Mayock, and was ranked the fifth best linebacker byESPN.[11][12][13][14]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+1⁄2 in (1.92 m) | 234 lb (106 kg) | 34+3⁄8 in (0.87 m) | 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | 4.67 s | 1.58 s | 2.68 s | 4.29 s | 7.03 s | 35 in (0.89 m) | 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) | 15 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[15][16][17] | ||||||||||||
TheHouston Texans selected Cunningham in the second round with the 57th overall pick in the2017 NFL draft.[18]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| Texans draft Cunningham 57th overall | |
| NFL Draft Profile: Zach Cunningham |
On May 12, 2017, the Texans signed Cunningham to a four-year, $4.47 million contract that includes $2.06 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.39 million.[19]
Cunningham competed withDylan Cole andSio Moore for the starting left inside linebacker job with original starterBrian Cushing suspended for the first ten games of the season. Head coachBill O'Brien named Cunningham the starter to begin the regular season.[20]
He made his professional regular season debut during the Texans' season-opening 29–7 loss to the Jaguars and finished the game with five combined tackle and a pass deflection. The following week, Cunningham earned his first career start and recorded six combined tackles as the Texans defeated theCincinnati Bengals, 13–9. On October 8, 2017, he collected nine combined tackles and forced the first fumble of his career during a 42–34 loss to theKansas City Chiefs.[21] In Week 13, Cunningham recorded four combined tackles and made his first career sack on Titans' quarterbackMarcus Mariota in the Texans' 24–13 loss at theTennessee Titans. In Week 17, he collected a season-high 12 combined tackles (four solo) during a 22–13 loss at theIndianapolis Colts. He finished his rookie season in 2017 with 90 combined tackles (45 solo), six pass deflections, and 1.5 sacks in 16 games and 13 starts.[22]
Cunningham entered training camp slated as a starting inside linebacker after Brian Cushing officially announced his retirement. Head coach Bill O'Brien named Cunningham andWhitney Mercilus the starting outside linebackers, along with middle linebackerBenardrick McKinney.[23] He finished the 2018 season with 107 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, five pass breakups, and one interception.[24]
In Week 2 against the Jaguars, Cunningham made a team high 10 tackles and sacked quarterbackGardner Minshew once as the Texans won 13–12.[25] In Week 12 against the Colts onThursday Night Football, Cunningham recorded a team high 16 tackles in the 20–17 win.[26] In Week 14 against the Broncos, Cunningham recorded a team high 17 tackles (12 solo) during the 38–24 loss.[27] He started all 16 games and recorded 142 total tackles (sixth in the league), two fumble recoveries, and two sacks.[28]
On August 30, 2020, the Texans signed Cunningham to a four-year, $58 million contract extension with $23.5 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest paid inside linebackers in the NFL.[29]
In Week 2 against theBaltimore Ravens, Cunningham recorded a team high 15 tackles (11 solo) and sackedLamar Jackson once during the 33–16 loss.[30]
Cunningham played in eight games and missed two games for theHouston Texans in 2021. He recorded 67 total tackles, one forced fumble and three pass deflections.[31] Texans coachDavid Culley benched Cunningham twice over the season for violating team rules.[32] The Texans waived Cunningham on December 8, 2021.[33]
The Titans claimed Cunningham off waivers on December 9, 2021.[34]
On November 12, 2022, Cunningham was placed oninjured reserve.[35] He was activated on December 23.[36] The Titans released him on February 22, 2023.[37]
On August 6, 2023, Cunningham signed with thePhiladelphia Eagles.[38]
On September 25, 2024, Cunningham was signed to theDenver Broncos' practice squad.[39] On November 27, he was promoted to the active roster.[40]
On May 27, 2025, Cunningham was signed by theDetroit Lions.[41] On October 22, Cunningham was placed on injured reserve after aggravating a hamstring injury in Week 7 against theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[42]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Long | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2017 | HOU | 16 | 13 | 90 | 48 | 42 | 1.5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | HOU | 14 | 14 | 107 | 73 | 34 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | HOU | 16 | 16 | 142 | 99 | 43 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 0 |
| 2020 | HOU | 16 | 16 | 164 | 106 | 58 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2TM | 14 | 11 | 93 | 51 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | HOU | 10 | 7 | 67 | 32 | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TEN | 4 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | TEN | 6 | 6 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 13 | 10 | 85 | 54 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | DEN | 7 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 102 | 86 | 709 | 448 | 261 | 6.5 | 23 | 1 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 0 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Long | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2018 | HOU | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | HOU | 2 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TEN | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | DEN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 6 | 5 | 43 | 28 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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