Rick Cunningham (American football)

Last updated

Rick Cunningham
No. 72, 64, 67, 68, 52
Position: Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1967-01-04) January 4, 1967 (age 57)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:305 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school: Beverly Hills (CA)
College: Sacramento City College
Texas A&M
NFL draft: 1990  / round: 4 / pick: 106
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:80
Games started:33
Fumble recoveries:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Patrick Dante Ross Cunningham (born January 4, 1967) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL), World League of American Football (WLAF), and Canadian Football League (CFL).

Originally known as Pat Cunningham, he played scholastically at Beverly Hills High School before spending a redshirt season at Oregon. [1] He transferred to Sacramento City College for one season after which he signed a National Letter of Intent to Tennessee. [2] However, he was determined to be academically ineligible due to not having graduated from SCC, so he returned there for a second year. [3] As a sophomore at SCC, Cunningham earned second team JUCO All-American honors. [4] He then spent his final two years of collegiate eligibility with Texas A&M. [5]

Cunningham was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL draft. [6] He appeared in two games with the Colts that year, and spent the 1991 training camp and pre-season with them before being released at their final cutdown. [7]

He was then selected by the Orlando Thunder in the third round of the 1992 WLAF Draft. [8] He went on to become the only unanimous selection for the All-World League Team, as the Thunder qualified for the World Bowl, losing to the Sacramento Surge. [9]

Following the WLAF season, Cunningham returned to the NFL, signing with the Phoenix Cardinals. [10] He spent three years in Phoenix, before signing with the Minnesota Vikings for a year, and then three seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

Cunningham finished his career with three years in the CFL, splitting time between the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos.

Rick lives in Chandler, AZ.

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References

  1. ↑ Hyams, Jimmy (January 18, 1987). "Tackle says he will sign with Vols". Knoxville News-Sentinel. Cunningham initially signed with Oregon but transferred after a redshirt season.
  2. ↑ Hyams, Jimmy (January 28, 1987). "2 more plan to join Vols". Knoxville News-Sentinel. Cunningham must pass 22 units to graduate from Sacramento C.C. and become eligible to play this season at Tennessee.
  3. ↑ "Two top Vols signees fall to academics". Knoxville News-Sentinel. August 4, 1987. Two junior-college signees, Pat Cunningham and Chuck Hardaway, failed to graduate and will not be coming to UT this year.
  4. ↑ "Notebook". Sacramento Bee. December 4, 1987. The JC Gridwire has named its JC All-America team...Pat Cunningham, a Panthers offensive lineman, was named to the second team.
  5. ↑ "Notes". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. January 14, 1988. Texas A&M signed lineman Pat Cunningham (6-7, 290) from Sacramento City Community College in California.
  6. ↑ "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  7. ↑ Rietmann, Tom (August 26, 1991). "Colts cut receiver Huffman: 13 others receive pink slip". The Indianapolis News.
  8. ↑ "WLAF Draft". The Orlando Sentinel. February 5, 1992. Pat Cunningham
  9. ↑ "All-World League Team". The Orlando Sentinel. May 28, 1992. Rick Cunningham
  10. ↑ "Sports Briefs:NFL". Arizona Republic. June 17, 1992. The Cardinals signed left tackle Patrick Cunningham...
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