Korey Cunningham, the American football offensive tackle, died on April 25, 2024, at 28, after a season as an unrestricted free agent. Having played in the NFL for five seasons (2018-22), the former Cardinals player collected a decent net worth of around $1.5 million.
An alum of the University of Cincinnati, Cunningham wore cleats from a young age throughout high school and college. However, it wasn’t until the 2018 NFL draft that his dream saw a professional route; he was the 7th-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals.
Thanks to his NFL contracts, he made $2.9 million in career earnings from his playing career. Read more about the late player’s legacy, net worth, achievements, and earnings in this article.
Quick Facts
| Name | Korey Cunningham |
| Nickname | Korey |
| Date of Birth | May 17, 1995 |
| Place of Birth | Montevallo, Alabama |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Date of Death | April 25, 2024 (at 28 years old) |
| Profession | NFL Player |
| Height | 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) |
| Weight | 138 Kg (305 lbs) |
| Draft Year | 2018 |
| Draft Pick | 7th round (254th overall) |
| Gender | Male |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Career Active | 2018-2022 |
| Social Media |
How Much Was Korey Cunningham’s Net Worth?
The former NY Giants offense tackle Korey Cunningham had an estimated net worth of $1.5 million at his death in April 2024. From his five seasons in the NFL (with limited game appearances), his contracts earned him $2,927,061 in career earnings.
Here is the list of Korey’s net worth in different currencies:
| Country | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| United States of America | USD 1,500,000 |
| Australia | Australian Dollar 2,295,331 |
| Canada | Canadian Dollar 2,058,523 |
| European Nations | Euro 1,399,297 |
| Japan | Japanese Yen 233,689,500 |
| United Kingdom | Pound Sterling 1,196,595 |
| United Arab Emirates | UAE Dirham 5,509,200 |
| Bitcoin | BTC 26.19 |
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Korey Cunningham’s Contracts: Salary From NFL Teams
The Arizona Cardinals picked Korey in the 7th round (254th overall) in the 2018 NFL draft on April 28, 2018. Then, on May 12, 2018, he signed his rookie contract worth $2.52 million for four years, with a projected average annual salary of $632,268 through the 2021-22 season.
However, after a season with the Cardinals, they traded him to the New England Patriots, where he played for two seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21 season).
The Patriots waived him on August 31, 2021, which followed his signing with the New York Giants on March 17, 2022, on a one-year $1.06 million contract.
Here is the breakdown of his salary:
| NFL Team | Season | Salary |
| Arizona Cardinals | 2018-19 | $542,182 (including $69,070 in signing bonus) |
| New England Patriots | 2019-20 | $570,000 |
| 2020-2021 | $801,025 (including $51,025 in incentives) | |
| New York Giants | 2021-22 | $771,554 |
| 2022-23 | $242,300 |
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Cunningham’s Other Income Source: Earnings From Endorsements
Aside from his career as a football player offering him a lucrative salary, Korey also made a considerable income from his endorsements. He endorsed 4S Wildlife, an outdoor & sporting goods company.
On his Instagram, he promoted East Coast Waterfowl (clothing), Sportsman’s Pride (pet supplies), Godiva Chocolatier, Mathews Archery, ASIO Gear, Vortex Optics, and Muck Boot, to name a few.
Even if the exact income from these endorsements is unknown, it allegedly was thousands of dollars (if not tens of thousands).
According to a calculation from an online tool called Influencer Marketing Hub, Korey’s Instagram could have earned him $113 – $169 per sponsored post. Aside from that, he probably earned a considerable sum through meet-and-greet events.
| Net Worth | $1.5 million |
| Primary Income Source | NFL career |
| Supplementary Income Source | Endorsements |
| Assets | House and Car |
Where Did Korey Cunningham Live? House And Property Acquisitions
The late NFL player lived in his house in Clifton, New Jersey. No further details about his home—its purchase report, designs, or worth—are available. According to online reports, the average house price in Clifton is around $536K, so the player’s property could be in a similar range.
On his Instagram, Cunningham often featured his jeep while posting pictures from his hunting. Moreover, Korey’s IG posts suggest that he enjoyed a quality lifestyle- he went on cruises and vacations across the globe.
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What Was the Cause Of Korey Cunningham’s Death?
Korey Cunningham was only 28 when he died on April 25, 2024, a few weeks shy of his 29th birthday, on May 17. The Clifton police went for a welfare check at his New Jersey home after a family member reported not hearing from him.
At the scene, the police officials found him unconscious (later pronounced dead) with no signs of foul play. The cause of death of the former NFL player is not out, but as reported, his death was self-inflicted.
The Montevallo, Alabama native last posted on his Instagram on April 21, four days before the news of his demise. As a tribute to their former offensive tackle, the NY Giants shared a heartful message on X: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Korey Cunningham[…].”
His former teammates, Darius Slayton, Graham Gano, Saquon Barkley, and Casey Kreiter, took to their social profiles to pay tribute to the player.
| Date of Death | April 25, 2024 (aged 28) |
| Cause of Death | N/A |
Who Are In Cunningham’s Family? Parents And Siblings
Korey is survived by his parents, Kirk and Kathy Cunningham, and his two siblings: brother Kirstan and sister Kayla. All of his family members’ names start with the letter “K.”
His father, Kirk, was born on May 21, 1960, making him [age dob=”05/21/1960″] old. He lives a retired life in Montevallo, Alabama. The late football player’s mother, Kathy, is a first-grade teacher at Alabaster City Schools (2013- present).
His parents have been married since June 1988.
Korey’s older brother, Kirstan (oldest), born on February 21, 1989, is [age dob=”02/21/1989″] now. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is the Director of Student Services One Stop at the University of West Alabama. Also, he is the co-host of True Comedy Podcast.
He lives in Livingston, Alabama, with his wife, Alexandria Cunningham (nee Carson), whom he married in January 2017.
Cunningham’s older sister, Kayla (b. May 24, 1994), is an alum of the University of West Alabama. She resides in Alabama with her husband, Denerian J. Farrington, a DJ. The duo shares two children: Karli Brookes & Dakota James.
| Father | Kirk Cunningham |
| Mother | Kathy Cunningham |
| Siblings | Kayla and Kirstan |
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Cunningham’s Legacy In Football
Korey’s fascination with football from an early age made him a standout tight end at Montevallo High School in his hometown. He was a three-star prospect, having scored 45 tackles and four sacks.
He initially committed to Auburn University (his father’s alma mater) for college but later changed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham after Auburn sacked head coach Gene Chizik.
However, he redshirted his freshman year at UAB Blazers and followed assistant coach Tyson Helton to the University of Cincinnati in 2014, where he played as a redshirt freshman.
In his sophomore year as a Cincinnati Bearcats, Korey played in nine out of 12 games, averaging 373.1 passing yards per game) and 186.3 rushing yards per game. His significant gameplay came as a junior when he became a starter left tackler in all games.
By his senior year, Cunningham was UC’s senior tri-captain and received the Bearcats’ Jim Kelly Spirit Award. In April 2017, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health education.
Journey To NFL: Played With Three Teams
Korey’s football journey took him into the 2018 NFL draft, where he became the 254th overall (7th round) pick of the Arizona Cardinals. He made his NFL debut on November 11, 2018, against the Oakland Raiders (now Las Vegas Raiders).
His rookie season concluded with six games after he suffered a foot injury in Week 16 and was placed on the injured reserve.
The Cardinals traded him to the New England Patriots before the 2019 season, and he made only one game appearance that season. In the 2020-21 season, he played 11 games before the team waived him on August 31, 2021.
Cunningham signed with the New York Giants on the practice squad in the 2021-22 season and soon made the 53-man roster. He signed a one-year $1.06 million contract and played in 12 out of 17 games.
Korey’s contract extension for the 2022-23 season got terminated due to a non-football injury on July 22, 2022, before re-signing to the practice squad.
On January 22, 2023, the Giants offered him a one-year reserve/future contract worth $1.08 million. However, they released him ahead of the season on August 27, 2023, making him an unrestricted free agent.
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