Sam Cunningham Biography – Sam Cunningham Wiki
Sam Cunningham born Samuel Lewis Cunningham Jr, nicknamed “Bam”, was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons with the New England Patriots. He played college football at USC, where he was named an All-American and received MVP honors in the 1973 Rose Bowl.
Selected in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Patriots, he became the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010. The same year, he was also inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
In only his second year 1974, he gained 811 yards and nine touchdowns as he led the New England Patriots to a surprising 4–0 start before faltering to a 7–7 finish. In 1977, he gained a career-high 1,015 yards and scored four touchdowns, and also caught 42 receptions for 370 yards and a touchdown. He played his entire career (1973 through 1982) with the Patriots and was a 1978 Pro Bowl selection. He was an integral part of the 1978 Patriots, who set an NFL record for rushing yards as a team with 3,165. This record stood for more than forty years and was not broken until the 2019 Baltimore Ravens.
He finished his career with 5,453 rushing yards, 210 receptions for 1,905 yards, and 49 touchdowns. He was the older brother of former UNLV and NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham and uncle of Randall Cunningham II and world champion high jumper, Vashti Cunningham.
He was a letterman for the University of Southern California’s football team from 1970 through 1972 where he played fullback. He was named an All-American in 1972 and was a member of USC’s 1972 national championship team. He scored four touchdowns in the 1973 Rose Bowl, which is still the modern-day Rose Bowl record, and was named Player of the Game. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1992 and into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
In 1970, he was part of USC’s “all-black” backfield – the first one of its kind in Division I (NCAA) history – that included quarterback Jimmy Jones and running back Clarence Davis. He had a notable debut performance (135 yards, two touchdowns) against an all-white University of Alabama football team, as USC beat Alabama 42–21 in Birmingham on September 12, 1970. His performance in the game was reportedly a factor in convincing the University of Alabama and its fans to let Coach Bear Bryant integrate Southern football. Jerry Claiborne, a former Bryant assistant, said, “Sam Cunningham did more to integrate Alabama in 60 minutes than Martin Luther King Jr. did in 20 years.”
Sam Cunningham Age
He was born on August 15, 1950, in Santa Barbara, California, United States, and died on September 7, 2021, in Inglewood, California, United States. He was 71.
Sam Cunningham Wife
He was married to his wife, Cine Cunningham until the time of his death on September 7, 2021. They had one daughter together.
Sam Cunningham Children
He is survived by his wife and their daughter, Samahndi.
Sam Cunningham Family
He is the oldest of the four Cunningham brothers; Randall, Bruce, and Anthony.
Sam Cunningham Height
At the peak of his sporting career, he stood at a listed height of 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters) and weighed up to 226 lb (103 kilograms).
Sam Cunningham Death
He died on September 7, 2021. He was 71 at the time of his demise. “We are deeply saddened to learn of yet another loss to the Patriots family this week and our hearts ache for Sam Cunningham’s family and all who are mourning his passing today,” Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft said in a statement. “Sam ‘Bam’ Cunningham was one of my favorite players throughout the ’70s and my sons all loved him. After I bought the team in 1994, it was my honor to welcome him back to the team on multiple occasions, recognizing him as a 50th-anniversary team member and again for his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
“As much as I admired him as a player, my affection for him only grew after spending time with him and learning more about him as a person. He made a tremendous impact, both on and off the field, and was beloved by his teammates. As a Patriots Hall of Famer, Sam’s legacy and contributions will be preserved and celebrated forever, but today his loss is felt with heavy hearts.”
Sam Cunningham Cause of Death
Cunningham died on September 7, 2021. He was 71. The cause of his death has not been disclosed yet.
