Former NFL Lineman Korey Cunningham Found Dead at His Home at 28

Former NFL offensive lineman Korey Cunningham, who previously played for the New York Giants, found dead at his home in Clifton, New Jersey. He was 28 years old.

Cunningham discovered unresponsive around 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. The Clifton Police Department received a call from a family member who was unable to reach him. Detective Lt. Robert Bracken confirmed the incident. On the other hand, this is not a tragic its planned.

Cunningham’s last professional team was the New York Giants.

The New York Giants expressed their sadness on Friday morning upon learning about the passing of Korey Cunningham. In a statement, they said, “We are sad to hear of the death of Korey Cunningham. He was a vital part of the spirit and camaraderie of the locker room. Our thoughts are with Korey’s family, friends, and teammates.”

The Giants did not reveal the cause of Korey Cunningham’s death.

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Korey Cunningham,” the Giants wrote on Friday. “He was a vital part of the spirit and camaraderie of the locker room. Our thoughts are with Korey’s family, friends, and teammates.”

On Thursday, Clifton police responded to a distress call, prompting them to forcefully enter Cunningham’s residence, where they tragically found him deceased, as confirmed by a police spokesperson.

Although the circumstances surrounding his passing are still under investigation, the spokesperson has stated that there is currently no suspicion of foul play.

Cunningham’s NFL journey began when he drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, coming from Cincinnati.

He later had a stint with the New England Patriots before eventually joining the Giants in 2021.

Throughout his career, Cunningham played in a total of 31 games, starting in six of them. However, he grappled with foot injuries, which plagued his time on the field. He underwent surgery as a rookie while with the Cardinals and later faced another surgery with the Giants in 2022.

Unfortunately, Cunningham’s professional football journey came to an end without him ever returning to play another game.

Standing tall at 6-foot-6 and weighing in at 311 pounds. Cunningham recognized not just for his physical stature but also for his vibrant personality and infectious laughter.

He was known to bring a positive energy to the locker room. With this act earning him the affection of his teammates during his tenure with the Giants.

The news of Cunningham’s passing brought shock and sorrow on Friday morning, with many of his teammates expressing their grief on social media. Several players posted about Cunningham’s death, reflecting the deep impact he had on their lives and the profound loss felt throughout the NFL community.

“Damn, man,” former Giants running back Saquon Barkley expressed on X, encapsulating the sentiment shared by many in response to the news of Cunningham’s passing.

Former Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh remarked that even after Cunningham’s departure from the team, he remained closely connected.

“We would invite him to the OL dinner every week even though he wasn’t on the team, which doesn’t happen ever,” Pugh shared on X. “Team dinners usually reserved for players currently on the team. But Korey was an exception, solely because he beloved by all the guys, whether you knew him or not. He’d share stories, and we’d laugh our asses off all night.”

Today is a sad day, but I’ll always remember the good times and the laughs. Everyone who knew Korey Cunningham was better for it. The world lost a great soul, expressed safety Jason Pinnock in an Instagram story.

This one hurt. Regardless of what you were going through, you wore the biggest smile. You are the first person to come help me move when I got settled at NYG. In the middle of camp and you were grinding to be on the team and learn the new playbook. You were the first at my house ready. Take care of yourselves and call your friends, people. I love you, brother.

Professional Career:

Cunningham’s NFL journey kicked off when he selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round, 254th overall, in the 2018 NFL Draft. He inked his rookie contract on May 11, 2018.

Throughout the 2018 season, he made six starts for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, his season cut short due to a foot injury sustained in Week 16, leading to his placement on injured reserve on December 25, 2018.

On August 28, 2019, the Arizona Cardinals traded Cunningham to the New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. During his time with the Patriots, Cunningham participated in 18 regular season games, starting six of them, and also appeared in one postseason game.

However, on August 31, 2021, Cunningham released by the Patriots, marking the end of his tenure with the team.

On September 7, 2021, Cunningham joined the practice squad of the New York Giants. Later, on October 19, 2021, he elevated to the active roster, solidifying his position within the team.

On March 17, 2022, the New York Giants re-signed Cunningham, demonstrating their continued confidence in his abilities. However, on July 22, 2022, his contract terminated due to a non-football injury, marking a setback in his professional journey.

Despite this setback, on October 18, 2022, the Giants brought Cunningham back into the fold by signing him to their practice squad. Which indicating their ongoing interest in his potential contributions. Then, on November 23, 2022, Cunningham was elevated from the practice squad for the Week 12 game against the Dallas Cowboys, showcasing his value to the team.

Looking ahead, Cunningham signed a reserve/future contract on January 22, 2023, signaling his commitment to continue his career with the Giants. However, his time with the team came to an end when he was released on August 27, 2023.

Pre Draft Measurement:

Certainly, here are the details with the Pro Day context included: