The Atlanta Falcons are turning the page in a big way.
On Thursday, the team officially named Ian Cunningham as their new general manager, bringing in the highly respected Chicago Bears assistant GM to help reshape the franchise’s future. The move follows a sweeping organizational reset that saw both former GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris dismissed shortly after the season finale.
Cunningham steps into the role with a strong résumé and a deep connection to the city he now returns to. Raised in nearby Roswell during the heyday of the “Dirty Birds” and Atlanta’s Olympic-era sports boom, Cunningham isn’t just taking a job-he’s coming home.
“It’s truly an honor to be the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons,” Cunningham said in a statement. “As a Falcons fan growing up in Roswell… I lived the passion of Atlanta sports fans and I can’t wait to be part of bringing that fire and energy back to the city.”
This hire is the latest in a series of bold moves by Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who recently created a new front-office role-President of Football-and handed it to franchise icon Matt Ryan. Ryan, in turn, helped lead the search for both Cunningham and newly hired head coach Kevin Stefanski, the former Browns sideline boss.
Cunningham emphasized the quick connection he’s built with both Ryan and Stefanski, calling it “incredible” to work alongside “two great football minds.” That synergy will be crucial as the trio begins the heavy lifting of rebuilding a roster that has underperformed in recent years.
Let’s be clear: Cunningham didn’t land this job by accident. Since 2022, he’s served as the right-hand man to Bears GM Ryan Poles, playing a central role in Chicago’s personnel evaluations, draft strategy, and overall roster construction. His name has been in the mix for GM vacancies across the league for the past few hiring cycles, and he’s widely viewed as one of the top up-and-coming executives in the NFL.
A former offensive lineman at the University of Virginia, Cunningham started 31 games in college before a brief stint as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008. While his playing career didn’t take off, his front-office trajectory has been a different story entirely. He’s earned Super Bowl rings with both the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles and was recognized by The Athletic as one of the NFL’s top “40 under 40” rising executives.
Cunningham’s football journey has taken him from the field to the front office, and now to the top of the Falcons’ organizational chart. He brings not only a strong football IQ but also a background in psychology and education-tools that could prove invaluable as he builds a culture alongside Ryan and Stefanski.
It’s also worth noting the connection between Ryan and Poles, Cunningham’s former boss in Chicago. Both played college football at Boston College, and that shared background likely helped build trust as Ryan evaluated Cunningham’s fit for Atlanta’s top personnel job.
The Falcons are clearly betting on alignment-between the front office, coaching staff, and ownership. And with Cunningham now in place, the foundation is set.
The next step? Turning that vision into wins on Sundays.