Ian Cunningham Wastes No Time Reshaping Falcons’ Front Office
It hasn’t taken long for Ian Cunningham to make his presence felt in Atlanta. Just weeks into his tenure as general manager, Cunningham is already putting his stamp on the Falcons’ front office-and he’s not tiptoeing around it. This is a clear pivot from the previous regime, and the moves he’s making speak volumes about his vision for the franchise.
One of the most notable developments? The Falcons are parting ways with Ryan Pace, their vice president of football operations and player personnel. That’s a significant shakeup, especially considering Pace’s NFL résumé and his role within Atlanta’s front office over the past few years.
Pace, who served as general manager of the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2021, joined the Falcons shortly after his time in Chicago ended. His arrival in Atlanta made sense at the time-he had a long-standing relationship with former GM Terry Fontenot, dating back to their shared days in New Orleans. That connection helped bring Pace into the fold, but with Fontenot now out, it was always going to be a tough fit moving forward.
The timing of this move is telling. Cunningham, who worked under Bears GM Ryan Poles-the man who replaced Pace in Chicago-knows firsthand what kind of situation Pace left behind. It’s not surprising, then, that Cunningham would opt for a clean break as he begins building a front office of his own.
This isn’t just about one departure, either. Assistant GM Kyle Smith is also gone, having taken a job with the Miami Dolphins.
That leaves Cunningham with two major roles to fill: assistant general manager and VP of football operations. These are cornerstone positions in any NFL front office, and whoever steps into those roles will play a key part in shaping the next chapter of Falcons football.
One name to watch? Joe Douglas.
The former Jets general manager has surfaced as a potential addition to the Falcons’ front office. Douglas and Cunningham have a history-both were part of the Eagles’ front office during their Super Bowl run-and that familiarity could make Douglas a natural fit.
Whether he ends up as assistant GM or takes on a different title, his experience could be a valuable asset in Atlanta.
Still, there’s a balancing act here. While Douglas brings a wealth of knowledge, there’s also the question of how much trust you place in another former GM who had a rocky tenure. That’s part of the calculus Cunningham and team owner Arthur Blank will need to weigh as they move forward.
What’s clear is this: Ian Cunningham isn’t interested in maintaining the status quo. He’s here to build something new in Atlanta-and that starts with the people in the building. The front office is being rebuilt from the ground up, and the decisions made in the coming weeks will set the tone for the Falcons’ future, both on and off the field.