Gunther Cunningham leaves Lions to join Pro Football Focus

Lions senior coaching adviser Gunther Cunningham has been hired as director of Football Oversight for Pro Football Focus, a performance data and research firm based in Cincinnati.

“We are thrilled to add to our PFF family one of the true legends of defensive football,” Pro Football Focus CEO/Owner and NBC Sunday Night Football color analyst Cris Collinsworth said in a statement. “Gunther Cunningham is such a unique coach and person. He has always connected with his players in such a deep personal way, and his aggressive style of defense has always made him a player and fan favorite.

“The rare aspect of Gunther's career is how this old school coach has embraced today's data analytics. It is the blending of that traditional football acumen with modern technical expertise that makes Gunther such a perfect fit for PFF.”

Cunningham, who was assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for the Lions from 2009-13, has coached at the college and pro level for 48 years.

He was head coach for the Chiefs from 1999-2000 and compiled a 16-16 record. In 1999, the Chiefs were 9-7 as he became the first coach in Chiefs history to claim nine wins in his first season as head coach.