T. J. Cunningham
No. 21
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born:(1972-10-24)October 24, 1972
Aurora, Colorado, U.S.
Died:February 18, 2019(2019-02-18) (aged 46)
Parker, Colorado, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Overland
College:Colorado
NFL Draft:1996 / Round: 6 / Pick: 209
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:9
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Anthony "T. J." Cunningham Jr. (October 24, 1972 – February 18, 2019) was a safety in the National Football League (NFL), playing for the Seattle Seahawks in 1996. Cunningham decided to retire after only one season. He played college football for Colorado.

Early life and education

Cunningham was born in Aurora, Colorado. He graduated from Overland High School.[1]

After his star football career in high school, Cunningham attended college at the University of Colorado Boulder, playing football there as well.

Career

Athletic career

Cunningham was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round (209th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft.[2][3] That year, Cunningham played in nine games before injuring his knee against the Oakland Raiders. He was released on August 25, 1997 after being placed on the physically unable to perform list a week prior.[4][5]

After football

After his playing career, Cunningham returned to his hometown and worked at William C. Hinkley High School, part of Aurora Public Schools, as its assistant principal.[6]

Death

On February 17, 2019, Cunningham was shot at Eaglecrest High School in Arapahoe County by a neighbor following an ongoing dispute over a parking space.[6] He had met with the suspect, Marcus Johnson, at the parking lot to "box it out", when Johnson shot him three times.[7] He died the following day as a result of his injuries.[8] Johnson is being charged with first-degree murder.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "T.J. Cunningham". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  2. ↑ "1996 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  3. ↑ "T.J. Cunningham". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  4. ↑ Cour, Jim (August 19, 1997). "Seahawks cut 6, put 6 on injured lists". Albany Democrat-Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Injured ex-Seahawk must wait". Albany Democrat-Herald. Associated Press. August 25, 1997. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Former Colorado football player T.J. Cunningham fatally shot in dispute". USA Today. Associated Press. February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ Hickey, Chuck (February 19, 2019). "Affidavit: T.J. Cunningham went to 'box it out' with neighbor before shooting". KDVR. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  8. ↑ Snowdon, Quincy; Writer, Staff (13 August 2019). "Man accused of murdering Hinkley High assistant principal pleads not guilty | Sentinel Colorado". Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  9. ↑ ""He brought a gun to a fistfight": Prosecutors detail how long-running neighbor dispute ended in T.J. Cunningham's death". 24 May 2019.
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