Randall Cunningham

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Cunningham's tenure with Philadelphia reached its peak during the 1988 season, where he was voted by league players as the NFC starting Pro Bowler. That year, he combined with fellow Pro Bowler Reggie White to lead the Eagles to the NFC Eastern Division Championship. In the subsequent Divisional Playoffs against the Chicago Bears in what became known as the 'Fog Bowl,' Cunningham threw 54 passes for 407 yards, establishing both remain playoff franchise records. He also shares the franchise record with three interceptions in that single game. Following this performance, he was named MVP of the Pro Bowl as the NFC defeated the AFC 28–3. His playing style was revolutionary; new head coach Buddy Ryan initially used him only in third-and-long situations to exploit his scrambling, but a hand injury to starter Ron Jaworski in week 10 of 1986 thrust Cunningham into the starting role permanently for 1987. Despite facing a porous offensive line that sacked him a franchise-record 72 times that season, he reached 'elite' status by 1988.

In Their Own Story

The 1990 game against the Buffalo Bills showcased Cunningham's unique ability to turn disaster into triumph. While throwing from his own end zone and facing an imminent sack from Bruce Smith on his blind side, Cunningham ducked and launched a 60-yard pass to wide receiver Fred Barnett, resulting in a 95-yard touchdown. That same year, he finished with 942 rushing yards, the second-most ever for a quarterback at the time, just 26 yards short of Bobby Douglass's all-time record set in 1972. He averaged 8.0 yards per rush, the most ever by an Eagle of any position with 100 attempts on the season. His career also featured a historic punt; on December 3 against the Giants, he unleashed a 91-yard punt, the longest in Eagles history and the fourth-longest ever. These moments defined a player who averaged 44.7 yards per punt across his 20 punts, proving his versatility extended far beyond standard quarterback duties.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking to understand Cunningham's legacy must focus on his statistical dominance within the Eagles organization before his departure in 1995. He left Philadelphia with 22,877 passing yards, second only to Ron Jaworski at the time, and 4,482 rushing yards, which was then the third-most in team history. He still holds the Eagles record for yards per rush attempt (6.62) and sacks taken (422). His career also included a 6.5 yards per pass attempt average in playoff games. However, his path to these numbers was not linear; a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in the first game of the 1991 season against Bryce Paup of the Green Bay Packers altered his trajectory. Feeling unappreciated by fans and the organization while serving as a backup, he retired after the 1995 season.

Did You Know?

• Cunningham was originally selected as a punter at UNLV, earning first-team All-American honors twice in that role.
• In the 'Fog Bowl' against the Chicago Bears, he threw a franchise-record 54 passes for 407 yards.
• During his rookie season, he completed just 34 percent of his passes and threw one touchdown against eight interceptions.
• He was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL draft but was also sought by the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits that same year.
• Cunningham holds the Eagles record for sacks taken with 422, a number that reflects the porous offensive line he played behind.