Gunther Cunningham, who spent a lifetime as a football coach, including stops with Stanford, Cal and the Los Angeles Raiders, died Saturday at 72.
The announcement was made by the Detroit Lions, for whom Cunningham worked last. The Detroit Free Press reported that the one-time Walnut Creek resident died of cancer.
“Gunther Cunningham will forever be remembered as one of the great men of our game,” the Lions said in a statement. “He left a lasting impact on every person who was fortunate enough to work alongside him during his more than 47 years as a coach — including 34 years in the National Football League, the final eight of which were spent here in Detroit.