{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Jerome Cunningham | image = Jerome Cunningham 2018 08-09.jpg | caption = Cunningham with the Tennessee Titans in 2018 | current_team = | number = 86, 83 | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|5|25|mf=y}} | birth_place = Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 254 | high_school = Crosby (Waterbury, Connecticut) | college = Southern Connecticut (2009–2012) | undraftedyear = 2013 | pastteams = * New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}}) * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2016}})* * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2018}})* * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2018}}) * Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2019}}) | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 8 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 59 | pfr = CunnJe00 }} '''Jerome Cunningham''' (born May 25, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southern Connecticut Owls.
==College career== Cunningham played tight end at Division II Southern Connecticut State University from 2009-2012. In his college career, he recorded 61 catches for 690 yards and 7 touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://scsuowls.com/sports/football/roster/jerome-cunningham/2636 | title=Jerome Cunningham - 2012 - Football }}</ref>
==Professional career== After going undrafted in the 2013 NFL draft, Cunningham was invited to the Indianapolis Colts' minicamp, but he did not receive a contract offer and spent the 2013 season out of football.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/12/who_is_jerome_cunningham_5_things_to_know_about_the_giants_new_tight_end.html |title=Who is Jerome Cunningham? 5 things to know about the Giants new tight end |last=Raanan |first=Jordan |date=December 18, 2014 |website=NJ.com |access-date=December 6, 2015}}</ref>
===New York Giants=== On August 5, 2014, Cunningham was signed by the New York Giants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-add-DE-Israel-Idonije-and-TE-Jerome-Cunningham/402d619e-c9d7-4506-b597-d27e221c31d7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921013835/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-add-DE-Israel-Idonije-and-TE-Jerome-Cunningham/402d619e-c9d7-4506-b597-d27e221c31d7 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |title=Giants add DE Israel Idonije and TE Jerome Cunningham |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=August 5, 2014 |website=Giants.com |access-date=December 6, 2015}}</ref> On August 26, 2014, he was waived. On September 3, 2014, Cunningham was added to the Giants' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-finalize-10-man-practice-squad-meet-the-players/76612769-1d79-4f48-8dde-cbbd82d999db |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921010754/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-finalize-10-man-practice-squad-meet-the-players/76612769-1d79-4f48-8dde-cbbd82d999db |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |title=Giants finalize 10-man practice squad; meet the players |last=Salomone |first=Dan |date=September 3, 2014 |website=Giants.com |access-date=December 6, 2015}}</ref> Cunningham spent the first 15 weeks of the 2014 regular season on the practice squad. On December 17, 2014, Cunningham was promoted to the active roster for the last two games of the regular season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/TE-Jerome-Cunningham-making-most-of-opportunity/d1d92c49-584c-4d7d-a8a1-f93dce984ce6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921012735/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/TE-Jerome-Cunningham-making-most-of-opportunity/d1d92c49-584c-4d7d-a8a1-f93dce984ce6 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |title=TE Jerome Cunningham making most of opportunity |last=Salomone |first=Dan |date=June 8, 2015 |website=Giants.com |access-date=December 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Coach-Coughlin-proud-of-team-for-rebounding/3896c2e0-d398-4c0e-9d8d-72ec8b0afd11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305061820/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Coach-Coughlin-proud-of-team-for-rebounding/3896c2e0-d398-4c0e-9d8d-72ec8b0afd11|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2017|title=Coach Coughlin proud of team for rebounding|website=www.giants.com|access-date=May 24, 2016}}</ref>
Cunningham made the Giants' 53-man roster to begin the 2015 regular season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/New-York-Giants-announce-53-man-roster/d90c09c7-4a11-4260-b545-8dd3a1fa0671 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822100152/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/New-York-Giants-announce-53-man-roster/d90c09c7-4a11-4260-b545-8dd3a1fa0671 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |title=New York Giants announce 53-man roster |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=September 5, 2015 |website=Giants.com |access-date=December 6, 2015}}</ref> On October 18, 2015, he was waived by the Giants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-add-CB-Brandon-McGee-to-active-roster-waive-TE-Jerome-Cunningham/539a1ed2-783d-4fd4-9d60-8a11fb306fec |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816103148/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-add-CB-Brandon-McGee-to-active-roster-waive-TE-Jerome-Cunningham/539a1ed2-783d-4fd4-9d60-8a11fb306fec |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |title=Giants add CB Brandon McGee to active roster; waive TE Jerome Cunningham |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=October 18, 2015 |website=Giants.com |access-date=December 6, 2015}}</ref> He was re-signed to the Giants' practice squad on October 21, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-sign-CB-Leon-McFadden-make-practice-squad-changes/4f27d39d-d5e3-43d7-b794-95e329d0966b |title=Giants sign CB Leon McFadden; make practice squad changes |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=October 21, 2015 |website=Giants.com |access-date=December 7, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207040633/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-sign-CB-Leon-McFadden-make-practice-squad-changes/4f27d39d-d5e3-43d7-b794-95e329d0966b |archive-date=December 7, 2015 }}</ref> Cunningham was promoted to the active roster on November 5, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Owa-Odighizuwa-placed-on-Short-Term-IR-Cunningham-to-active-roster/889f1e85-a609-4070-af34-7a0e1e8c02b1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816102426/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Owa-Odighizuwa-placed-on-Short-Term-IR-Cunningham-to-active-roster/889f1e85-a609-4070-af34-7a0e1e8c02b1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |title=Owa Odighizuwa placed on Short-Term IR; Cunningham to active roster |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=November 5, 2015 |website=Giants.com |access-date=December 7, 2015}}</ref> On May 5, 2016, the Giants waived Cunningham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-waive-TE-Jerome-Cunningham-safety-GJ-Kinne/1f2b0022-e29a-43a4-9453-430b4a87cca8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021014123/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-waive-TE-Jerome-Cunningham-safety-GJ-Kinne/1f2b0022-e29a-43a4-9453-430b4a87cca8 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2016 |title=Giants waive TE Jerome Cunningham, safety G.J. Kinne |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=May 5, 2016 |website=Giants.com |access-date=July 18, 2016}}</ref>
===New York Jets=== Cunningham was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on May 9, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/05/jets_claim_ex-giants_te_jerome_cunningham_waive_rb.html|title=Jets claim ex-Giants TE Jerome Cunningham, waive RB/KR Dri Archer|website=NJ.com|date=May 10, 2016|access-date=May 24, 2016}}</ref> On May 24, 2016, he was waived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Sign-Undrafted-RB-Romar-Morris/c48a913b-c6ba-47c2-a655-0a997cb03525|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920224316/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Sign-Undrafted-RB-Romar-Morris/c48a913b-c6ba-47c2-a655-0a997cb03525|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2016|title=Jets Sign Undrafted RB Romar Morris|website=www.newyorkjets.com|access-date=May 24, 2016}}</ref>
===Tennessee Titans=== On May 25, 2016, Cunningham was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/05/25/jerome-cunningham-claimed-off-waivers-by-titans/ |title=Jerome Cunningham claimed off waivers by Titans |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=May 25, 2016 |website=NBCSports.com |access-date=July 18, 2016}}</ref> On September 2, 2016, he was released by the Titans as part of final roster cuts and was signed to the practice squad the next day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Down to 53 Players: A Position-by-Position Look|url=http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Down-to-53-Players-A-Position-by-Position-Look/628127bc-7013-4906-a04d-bd1f9e8ce8fa|last=Wyatt|first=Jim|date=September 2, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807023144/http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Down-to-53-Players-A-Position-by-Position-Look/628127bc-7013-4906-a04d-bd1f9e8ce8fa|archive-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Sign Nine Players to Practice Squad|url=http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Sign-Nine-Players-to-Practice-Squad/ab4be6fb-eb1b-4c00-86ff-598aa538dc09|last=Wyatt|first=Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=September 4, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816110800/http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Sign-Nine-Players-to-Practice-Squad/ab4be6fb-eb1b-4c00-86ff-598aa538dc09|archive-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract with the Titans on January 2, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans sign seven players to futures contracts|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/titans-sign-seven-players-to-futures-contracts/|author=Cotton, Dan|website=CBSSports.com|date=January 2, 2017}}</ref>
On September 2, 2017, Cunningham was waived by the Titans and was signed to the practice squad the next day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Down to 53 Players: A Position-by-Position Look|url=http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Down-to-53-Players-A-Position-by-Position-Look/d201b599-31f7-4441-8f65-948795805f04|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=September 2, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206112407/http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Down-to-53-Players-A-Position-by-Position-Look/d201b599-31f7-4441-8f65-948795805f04|archive-date=February 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Add Eight Players to Practice Squad|url=http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Add-Eight-Players-to-Practice-Squad/79a0f2c4-51e4-4704-bf1c-1e4a9c174ce8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208182923/http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Add-Eight-Players-to-Practice-Squad/79a0f2c4-51e4-4704-bf1c-1e4a9c174ce8|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2018|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=September 3, 2017}}</ref> He was released on September 12, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans make a couple of practice squad moves|url=https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/2017/9/12/16296904/titans-make-couple-of-practice-squad-moves|author=Morris, Jimmy|website=MusicCityMiracles.com|date=September 12, 2017}}</ref> He was re-signed to the practice squad on December 13, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Re-Sign TE Jerome Cunningham To Practice Squad|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/titans-re-sign-te-jerome-cunningham-practice-squad/|date=December 13, 2017}}</ref> On December 19, 2017, he was released from the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerome Cunningham: Cut from Tennessee's practice squad|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jerome-cunningham-cut-from-tennessees-practice-squad/|date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>
On August 7, 2018, Cunningham was re-signed by the Titans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Add LB, TE While Releasing TE Supernaw and Placing LB Palmer on IR|url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-add-lb-te-while-releasing-te-supernaw-and-placing-lb-palmer-on-ir|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=August 7, 2018}}</ref> He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Titans Trim Roster From 90 to 53 Players|url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/roster-moves-titans-trim-roster-from-90-to-53-players|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=September 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Add Six To Practice Squad, Including LB Robert Spillane and RB Dalyn Dawkins|url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-add-six-to-practice-squad-including-lb-robert-spillane-and-rb-dalyn-dawki|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=September 2, 2018}}</ref> He was released on September 18, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Add RB Dalyn Dawkins, CB Kenneth Durden While Waiving LB Aaron Wallace|url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-add-rb-dalyn-dawkins-cb-kenneth-durden-while-waiving-lb-aaron-wallace|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=September 18, 2018}}</ref>
===Detroit Lions=== On September 26, 2018, Cunningham was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lions release Donnel Pumphrey, sign Jerome Cunningham|url=https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Lions-release-Donnel-Pumphrey-sign-Jerome-Cunningham-122519995/|website=247sports.com|date=September 26, 2018}}</ref> On October 24, he was released and re-signed to the practice squad three days later.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2018/10/24/18018640/nfl-rookie-of-the-year-odds-2018-kerryon-johnson-detroit-lions|title=Notes: Kerryon Johnson 4th in Offensive Rookie of the Year odds|last=Reisman|first=Jeremy|date=October 24, 2018|work=Pride Of Detroit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/10/27/lions-re-sign-te-cunningham-to-practice-squad-release-rb-bouagnon/|title=Lions re-sign TE Cunningham to practice squad, release RB Bouagnon|last=Schlitt|first=Erik|date=October 27, 2018|work=Lions Wire}}</ref> On October 31, he was cut again but re-signed the next day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-sign-free-agent-lb-kelvin-sheppard|title=Lions sign free agent LB Kelvin Sheppard|date=October 31, 2018|website=Detroitlions.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jerome-cunningham-joins-lions-practice-squad/|title=Jerome Cunningham: Joins Lions' practice squad|date=November 1, 2018|work=CBSSports.com}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on December 11, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lions place DE Ezekiel Ansah and TE Michael Roberts on Reserve-Injured|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-place-de-ezekiel-ansah-and-te-michael-roberts-on-reserve-injured|website=DetroitLions.com|date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>
On August 31, 2019, Cunningham was waived by the Lions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Lions establish 53-man roster|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-establish-53-man-roster|website=DetroitLions.com|date=August 31, 2019}}</ref>
===Washington Redskins=== On September 25, 2019, Cunningham was signed by the Washington Redskins.<ref>{{cite web|title=Washington signs tight end Jerome Cunningham|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/09/25/washington-signs-tight-end-jerome-cunningham/|author=Williams, Charean|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on October 15.<ref>{{cite web|title=Redskins Place TE Jerome Cunningham On IR; Release TE Drew Belcher, T Victor Salako; Sign FB Michael Burton|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-place-te-jerome-cunningham-on-ir-release-te-drew-belcher-t-victor-salak|website=Redskins.com|date=October 15, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-date=July 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716032916/https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-place-te-jerome-cunningham-on-ir-release-te-drew-belcher-t-victor-salak|url-status=dead}}</ref>
After the season, the Redskins chose not to assign a restricted free agent tender to Cunningham, and he became a free agent on March 18, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/transactions |title=2022 NFL League Transactions - Trades Waivers, Signings & more |work=Nfl.com |date= |accessdate=2022-05-30}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Jerome}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Waterbury, Connecticut Category:American football tight ends Category:Southern Connecticut Owls football players Category:New York Giants players Category:New York Jets players Category:Tennessee Titans players Category:Detroit Lions players Category:Washington Redskins players