Gun to Detroit?

[tornadospotter]

am SchefterCunningham could join Schwartz in Detroit (http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/01/16/cunningham-could-join-schwartz-in-detroit/)
Posted: Adam Schefter (http://blogs.nfl.com/category/adam-schefter/) | Adam Schefter | Tags: Detroit Lions (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/detroit-lions/), Gunter Cunningham (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/gunter-cunningham/), Jim Schwartz (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/jim-schwartz/)
It didn’t take long for the Detroit Lions’ new head coach, Jim Schwartz, to begin reaching out to assistant coaching candidates.
Schwartz asked for and received permission to interview Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who worked with him on the Tennessee Titans’ staff from 2001 to 2003.
Cunningham’s job security in Kansas City is tenuous at best, and the fact that he was one of the first coaches that Schwartz contacted is a sign of how much he is wanted in Detroit. One league source said that Cunningham is expected to be hired in Detroit.
Cunningham could wind up being Schwartz’s defensive coordinator with the Lions, working under him in the same way he did for three seasons when he was the Titans’ linebackers coach and Schwartz was the defensive coordinator.
If it’s the end of Cunningham’s career in Kansas City, the curtain will fall on a man who had an attachment to the city. Cunningham spent 11 years with the Chiefs, including two in which he was the head coach in 1999 and 2000.

SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Cunningham could join Schwartz in Detroit", url: "http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/01/16/cunningham-could-join-schwartz-in-detroit/" });

[Sick Dog]

hmmmmm....maybe they have all been told to pack up but just not announced yet?

[Coach]

Good luck Gunther. Glad to see a change for KC though.

[Eydugstr]

The Lions could do a lot worse than Gunther Cunningham.

Just my two cents here - Granted, I understand that its time for some change in KC - but I still believe Gunther has a lot of coaching experience to offer, in the right situation.

This season wasn't Gun's fault. The year before the Chiefs had a very highly ranked defense.

So what happens? His star defensive end (Jared Allen) managed to get himself DUI's and the front office didn't do it's job and find Gunther talent to replace him. It also didn't help when Donnie Edwards got hurt and the only way they really had to replace him was move Derrick Johnson (a guy who plays good, but not great) into the middle linebacker job. Come to think of it - it's been a revolving door of free agency linebackers for some time now, has any of them ever panned out?

I also think that the reason that Pollard, Flowers, Carr and Legget have improved so much has do due with Gun's aggressive attitude as it does Herm's goofy 3rd & 4th down play calling!!

[oldred]

Gun has a long history of being a very good defensive coach. How much authority he had under the current Head coach is questionable. Good to see there are those who still have confidence in him. I wish nothing but the best for the man.

[Vandelay]

Gun is one of my favorite coaches ever. He got the shaft when he was fired as head coach. But its just not working this time around, for whatever reason, (Herm), and its time for a new DC in KC. Best of luck to coach Gun going forward.

[hardcorechiefsfan]

Maybe Gunther could be like new and make the lions' dl as fearsome as the chiefs' dl used to be years ago. More power to all that might be effected.

[theorangelion]

What happened to Gun this year no talent. Whose fault? King Carl's. I'm sure Gun just loves having the lowest sack total for a season on his resume.

[slc chief]

good luck to gun i am glad to see him gone but i wish him well

[KristofLaw]

Good luck in Detroit. It's not quite spring, but the house needs cleaning.

[KCCAT21]

I agree. Good luck Gun. Wish you well, but you have to leave here.

[Seek]

Gun has a long history of being a very good defensive coach. How much authority he had under the current Head coach is questionable. Good to see there are those who still have confidence in him. I wish nothing but the best for the man.

I am not sure what definse long. He was basically a DC for Oakland in which he failed after two years and was delegated to Line Backer Coach then he left Oakland and joined the Chiefs where he was DC for four years, with tons of talent to work with. This is what he made his name from. Since then he has been crap.

He had four years under Marty and a great defense player wise, and that is all. If anyone from the coaching staff gets fired this year. It is Gunther. I hope he gets a job with Detroit.

[okikcfan]

Gun has a long history of being a very good defensive coach. How much authority he had under the current Head coach is questionable. Good to see there are those who still have confidence in him. I wish nothing but the best for the man.

Gun has always been a very good DC and with Carl and Herm at the Helm of the draft anf FA he had little control and less to work with. Allen was given up for draft pick period. Fact is work must be out at arrowhead for all the coaches to be searching and leaving. Under new management the Gun could back to his old self given the chance. Keep the Gun fire Herm....

[hometeam]

Fire them both. :)

[Bike]

Lost 24 of last 26 games. Flush entire coaching staff.

[dbolan]

Well, Gun is gone! Funny thing about it is that I told you guys that the longer Herm stays the better his chance to BS his way in for another year! Or, throw others under the bus!!

I have never been too warm and fuzzy about Gun but on the other hand, you do need talent on that side of the ball as well.

I really believe that the AZ OC will be the next HC in KC!

[dkennedy2323]

Cunningham to run Lions' defense

Comment (http://myespn.go.com/conversation/story?id=3848485) Email (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3848485#) Print (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3848485&type=story)
Associated Press

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- New Detroit Lions (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=det) coach Jim Schwartz made his first major staff hire Wednesday, bringing in veteran assistant Gunther Cunningham as defensive coordinator.
The two previously worked together as assistants on Jeff Fisher's staff in Tennessee. Schwartz was defensive coordinator under Fisher this past season, when the Titans posted an NFL-best 13-3 record with a defense that ranked second in points allowed.
Cunningham, a 40-year coaching veteran on the college and pro levels, was Kansas City's head coach from 1999-2000 and the Chiefs' defensive coordinator in 1995-98 and from 2004 through this past season.
He'll set about trying to fix one of the league's worst defenses, one of the big reasons Detroit didn't win a game last season.
Terms of his contract were not disclosed.
Cunningham also has served as an assistant with the Raiders, Chargers and Colts in the NFL and California, Stanford, Arkansas and Oregon in the college ranks.

[jmlamerson]

We're richer for having lost him.

[Bike]

Another lateral move. So now Herm has lost the fans and is quickly losing all his coaches.
I would have to assume Herms house is sporting a
'For Sale' sign and a moving truck outside his front door...