Zach Cunningham

Zach Cunningham's Biography

Zachary Daniel Cunningham is an outstanding American professional football player who was born on the 2nd of December 1994. Currently, Cunningham plays as a linebacker for the Denver Broncos under the National Football League (NFL). In his early years, Cunningham laid the foundation for his successful career when he attended Pinson Valley High School in Pinson, Alabama where his high school football journey was exceptional. He tackled a whopping 448 times, including 194 as a senior.

Recognizing his undeniable talent and prowess on the football field, Vanderbilt University offered him an opportunity to compete at the collegiate level and he gladly accepted. Cunningham’s determination and mentally disciplined character paved his way to impressive success through his college football years. At Vanderbilt, Cunningham didn’t participate in games during his first year, 2013. Nonetheless, in 2014 he played in 11 games making 67 tackles and 1.5 sacks. This marked the beginning of an impressive college football career for the promising linebacker.

In 2015, Cunningham participated in all 12 games while starting in nine and ending the year with 103 tackles, 4.5 sacks. His performances did not go unnoticed and he was honored as part of the first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC). Making history in the SEC, Cunningham became the first unanimous All-American at Vanderbilt University in 2016. His record-setting SEC-best 119 total tackles secured the 11th overall spot nationally. Cunningham’s effective game strategy and execution awarded him the seventh spot to earn All-American honors.

Truly a top-linebacker, Cunningham was a finalist for the Butkus Award. His records include 16.5 tackles for loss, concluding the season second in the SEC and 22nd nationally, in addition to four fumble recoveries. This tied for second nationally, just one beneath the leader. His dedication, passion, and team spirit were evident through his best performances against SEC opponents, including a memorable play against Auburn where he blocked a field goal. Despite a loss sealed by an Auburn interception, Cunningham’s leap was named Top Ten Play of the Day by ESPN.

Cunningham’s impressive college career paved his way to the NFL. He attended the NFL Combine and completed all the drills. He showed great commitment during the pre-draft process and was predicted to be a first or second round pick by NFL draft experts. Based on his rankings by Sports Illustrated, NFL analysts Bucky Brooks and Mike Mayock, and ESPN; Cunningham was a force to be reckoned with in the draft.

The Houston Texans selected Cunningham as their new recruit in the second round with the 57th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. Texas signed him to a four-year, $4.47 million contract. This included $2.06 million guaranteed along with a signing bonus of $1.39 million. About the same time, Brian Cushing, the original starter for the Texans was suspended for the first ten games of the season. This created an opportunity for Cunningham to prove his mettle and he did not disappoint, becoming the starting left inside linebacker.

Cunningham made his professional regular-season debut during the Texans’ opening game, finishing with five combined tackles and a pass deflection. As a competent linebacker, he gained a starting position and his career thrived in the NFL. He climbed records, eventually making a season-high 12 combined tackles during the last game of the 2017 season against the Indianapolis Colts. He ended his rookie season with remarkable stats: 90 combined tackles, six pass deflections, and 1.5 sacks in 16 games with 13 starts.

Cunningham continued to build his legacy in subsequent seasons. Highlighting his 2018 season, Cunningham made a team record of 10 tackles and sacked the quarterback once during a match against the Jaguars which the Texans won. He wrapped up the 2018 season with impressive stats: 107 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, five pass breakups, and one interception.

Moving forward, Cunningham was assigned to a new team, the Titans. During his stint at the Titans, he went through a series of ups and downs, including being put on injured reserve, activated, and then eventually released by the Titans by February 2023. However, Cunningham rebounded back by signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in August 2023 further proving his resilience and dedication to the sport.

By September 2024, Cunningham’s career took another turn with a move to the Denver Broncos. Cunningham has had an impressive career in the NFL so far, and with a record like his, the sky is the limit for this gifted linebacker. His journey, filled with determination, hard work, and passion for football, serves as an inspiration to many aspiring athletes around the globe.