Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham, was born on March 27, 1963, in Santa Barbara, California. He attended the Santa Barbara High School as part of graduating class 1981. As a high school senior, Cunningham led his team to a League title and the CIF Finals. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Cunningham left Las Vegas as the most accomplished player in school history, UNLV's career passing and punting leader. He became the first Rebel player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
A First Team All-America punter in 1983, Cunningham received second team honors as a senior while also garnering honorable mention as a quarterback. The two-position star broke 18 UNLV records, including career marks for passing yards (8,020), touchdown passes (59) and punting average (45.6). A two-time PCAA Offensive Player of the Year, Cunningham was first team all-conference three times as a punter and twice as a quarterback. The single-season and career punting leader in PCAA history, he led the Rebels to the 1984 conference title and earned MVP honors in their first-ever bowl game appearance, which was a victory in the California Bowl. Cunningham is only the third quarterback in history to pass for at least 2,500 yards in three consecutive seasons, and he finished his career with 142 punts for 6,471 yards.
Drafted in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Cunningham went on to play for 16 years in the NFL for the Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. Cunningham was the NFL's first superstar dual-threat quarterback, a prolific runner and passer. During a 16-year career, Cunningham accumulated victories and oh-wow plays in bunches. In one season, Cunningham passed for almost 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, and also rushed for more than 940 yards with another five touchdowns. Five times, Cunningham guided his teams to at least 10 victories in the regular season. In six seasons, Cunningham started nine playoff games. Cunningham did it while displaying athleticism the NFL had never seen at the game's most important position.
The four-time Pro Bowl and two-time all Pro selection ranks second all-time in the NFL for career rushing yards by a quarterback with 4,928, and he was named the 1998 NFL Offensive Player of the Year while with the Vikings. Cunningham finished his career completing 2,429 of his 4,289 attempts for 29,997 yards and 207 passing touchdowns, with 35 rushing touchdowns. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame in 2009.
After retirement, Cunningham returned to UNLV to finish his degree in 2004. A 1997 inductee into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame, Cunningham saw his No. 12 retired, making it the only football jersey in school football history with the distinction. He received the NFL Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for community service in 2012. In March 2013, Cunningham authored Lay It Down: How Letting Go Brings Out Your Best. The book shows readers how to work out the "lay it down" principle in all phases of life. Cunningham currently serves as head pastor at Remnant Ministries, which he founded with his wife Felicity in Las Vegas.
Randall Cunningham, was born on March 27, 1963, in Santa Barbara, California. He attended the Santa Barbara High School as part of graduating class 1981. As a high school senior, Cunningham led his team to a League title and the CIF Finals. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Cunningham left Las Vegas as the most accomplished player in school history, UNLV's career passing and punting leader. He became the first Rebel player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
A First Team All-America punter in 1983, Cunningham received second team honors as a senior while also garnering honorable mention as a quarterback. The two-position star broke 18 UNLV records, including career marks for passing yards (8,020), touchdown passes (59) and punting average (45.6). A two-time PCAA Offensive Player of the Year, Cunningham was first team all-conference three times as a punter and twice as a quarterback. The single-season and career punting leader in PCAA history, he led the Rebels to the 1984 conference title and earned MVP honors in their first-ever bowl game appearance, which was a victory in the California Bowl. Cunningham is only the third quarterback in history to pass for at least 2,500 yards in three consecutive seasons, and he finished his career with 142 punts for 6,471 yards.
Drafted in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Cunningham went on to play for 16 years in the NFL for the Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. Cunningham was the NFL's first superstar dual-threat quarterback, a prolific runner and passer. During a 16-year career, Cunningham accumulated victories and oh-wow plays in bunches. In one season, Cunningham passed for almost 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, and also rushed for more than 940 yards with another five touchdowns. Five times, Cunningham guided his teams to at least 10 victories in the regular season. In six seasons, Cunningham started nine playoff games. Cunningham did it while displaying athleticism the NFL had never seen at the game's most important position.
The four-time Pro Bowl and two-time all Pro selection ranks second all-time in the NFL for career rushing yards by a quarterback with 4,928, and he was named the 1998 NFL Offensive Player of the Year while with the Vikings. Cunningham finished his career completing 2,429 of his 4,289 attempts for 29,997 yards and 207 passing touchdowns, with 35 rushing touchdowns. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame in 2009.
After retirement, Cunningham returned to UNLV to finish his degree in 2004. A 1997 inductee into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame, Cunningham saw his No. 12 retired, making it the only football jersey in school football history with the distinction. He received the NFL Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for community service in 2012. In March 2013, Cunningham authored Lay It Down: How Letting Go Brings Out Your Best. The book shows readers how to work out the "lay it down" principle in all phases of life. Cunningham currently serves as head pastor at Remnant Ministries, which he founded with his wife Felicity in Las Vegas.
