Randall Cunningham praying May 19, 2022; Walnut, CA, USA; Randall Cunningham coaches his daughter Vashti Cunningham (not pictured) in the women’s high jump during the USATF Distance Classic at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
NFLBy Sean Keeley on

Former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham is best known for his time with the Philadelphia Eagles but up until recently, he had been working as a team chaplain for the Las Vegas Raiders, a role he resigned from in July. Now, he’s talking about why.

In an interview with Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Cunningham said that he didn’t feel wanted by new Raiders coach Josh McDaniels.

“I kept calling and calling and calling, trying to contact the right officials to get the OK on what the direction was with Coach McDaniels, but it just went by, and finally I said, ‘I don’t think I’m needed here anymore,’” Cunningham said. “He texted me one time and he said, ‘I’m looking forward to you and your involvement here. And I said, ‘Feel free to call anytime.’ And I never received a call back. And I just figured that was kind of like a sign for me it is time for me to move on.”

Cunningham said that he feels it’s important for NFL players to have a chaplain in order to have a supportive figure beyond the coaching staff.

“The players really need someone who is going to be like a brother, a father figure. Someone they can lean on and talk to outside of the organization,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham was hired to the Raiders by former coach Jon Gruden, who resigned due to a shocking email scandal as part of the investigation into the Washington Commanders and owner Dan Snyder. He spent two years with the organization before resigning.

[St. Paul Pioneer Press]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

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