It was announced this week the Detroit Lions are keeping former defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham on staff as a senior coaching assistant, but it was unclear what his role would be based only on the title.

In comments posted on the team's official website Thursday, Cunningham shed some light on what his new position entails.

On the coaching side, Cunningham will assist in game planning. But in a unique twist, he'll work with both sides of the ball.

"I talked with (defensive coordinator Teryl Austin) about what he wanted, and then when I talked to Jim (Caldwell) the second or third time, he asked me about the offense," Cunningham said. "He could see the smile on my face.

"One thing a defensive coach knows about is offense. That's what offensive coaches try to dissect and hopefully I can be of help to (new offensive coordinator) Joe (Lombardi) in that area, and Jim himself."

Cunningham has more than four decades of coaching experience. His weekly preparation combines traditional film study with a new-school approach of studying and analyzing advanced metrics.

"All I'm trying to do is lend my experience and my background and what I've seen and what I think when I look on tape," he said.

In addition to working with the coaching staff, Cunningham will also have an expanded role with the front office, assisting with research for both free agency and the upcoming NFL draft.

Cunningham is diligent when it comes to preparing for the draft. According to the team's website, he produced nine times as many pre-combine reports as the other coaches on staff last year.

"I think my long talks with Martin (Mayhew) over the last four or five years obviously paid off on my behalf," Cunningham said. "I'm going to be involved in that and that's exciting."

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