Editing Randall Cunningham (section)

== Revolutionary Athleticism ==

Randall Wade Cunningham was born on March 27, 1963, in Santa Barbara, California, attending UNLV where his abilities attracted NFL attention. The Eagles selected him in the second round of the 1985 draft, recognizing potential that his backup years behind Ron Jaworski allowed to develop. By 1986, he had assumed starting duties, beginning a decade of play that would redefine expectations for quarterback athleticism.<ref name="macnow">{{cite book |last=MacNow |first=Glen |title=The Great Philadelphia Sports Debate |year=2003 |publisher=Middle Atlantic Press |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>

His 1990 season represented his peak, the MVP-caliber performance earning him NFL Most Valuable Player consideration and establishing records for rushing by a quarterback that would stand for decades. His 942 rushing yards that season, combined with 3,466 passing yards, demonstrated dual-threat abilities that opponents could not solve. The scrambles, the improvisation, and the throws while under duress created highlights that fans still celebrate decades later.<ref name="didinger"/>

His signature plays—the escape from certain sacks, the launches to receivers who had somehow gotten open during extended plays—represented football at its most creative. The comparison to Houdini that announcers frequently invoked captured the magic of performances that seemed to defy football's physical realities. Cunningham made impossible plays look possible, expanding understanding of what quarterbacks could accomplish.<ref name="macnow"/>