Ian Cunningham Lands Falcons GM Job - And Why the Bears Were Right Not to Block It
Ian Cunningham is officially the new general manager of the Atlanta Falcons - a major milestone for a longtime front office riser who’s been waiting for his shot. After years of interviews and close calls, the former Bears assistant GM finally secured one of the NFL’s 32 most coveted roles.
But back in Chicago, the reaction hasn’t been all celebration. In fact, some Bears fans are more focused on what they didn’t get out of the move: compensatory draft picks.
Let’s break this down.
No Picks for the Bears - Here’s Why
Under the NFL’s Rooney Rule expansion, teams that develop minority candidates who are hired away as head coaches or general managers are awarded two third-round compensatory picks. But there’s a catch - the new hire has to be the club’s primary football executive.
In Atlanta, that title belongs to Matt Ryan. The longtime Falcons quarterback is now the team’s president of football operations and will serve as the top football decision-maker. Because of that setup, the Bears won’t receive the draft compensation that typically comes with losing a minority executive to a GM role.
Understandably, that stings for Bears fans. Two third-round picks are valuable currency in a league where roster-building is everything. But the frustration didn’t stop there - some fans took to social media to question why GM Ryan Poles didn’t block the interview altogether.
Why Blocking the Interview Was Never an Option
Let’s be real - blocking Cunningham’s interview would’ve sent a terrible message, not just to him, but to everyone working inside Halas Hall.
Imagine you’ve put in years of work, helped build a competitive roster, and finally get a chance to lead your own team - only to have your boss slam the door on the opportunity. That’s the kind of move that erodes trust inside an organization. It’s short-sighted, and it’s not how you build a sustainable, respected front office.
Poles knew that. And according to reports, the Bears were well aware that they wouldn’t receive compensatory picks if Cunningham took the Atlanta job. They let the process play out anyway - because it was the right thing to do.
It’s a philosophy that echoes what new Bears head coach Ben Johnson said at his end-of-season presser. He made it clear he supports his staff pursuing new opportunities, even if it means losing key contributors. As he put it, that’s just the nature of the business.
Why Cunningham Took the Job - And What It Means for Atlanta
Some fans have also questioned why Cunningham would take a GM job where he isn’t the top football voice. But if you listen to Cunningham himself, the answer is pretty clear - this is personal.
"As a Falcons fan growing up in Roswell when the Dirty Birds were rolling, the Braves were on fire and the city was hosting the Summer Olympics, 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," Cunningham said in the team’s release.
That connection to the city matters. So does the chance to work alongside Matt Ryan and new head coach Kevin Stefanski - two respected football minds who share a clear vision for the franchise.
And let’s not forget the pay raise and the title bump. Even if Ryan holds final say, Cunningham will have a major seat at the table.
This is also the next logical step in a career that’s been building toward this moment for nearly two decades. Cunningham started in Baltimore as a personnel assistant in 2008, worked his way up to area scout, then climbed the ladder in Philadelphia - from director of college scouting to director of player personnel. When he joined the Bears in 2022 as assistant GM, he became a key part of Chicago’s front office rebuild.
Now, he takes the next step in Atlanta, where he’ll help shape a roster alongside Ryan and Stefanski. His track record suggests he’s more than ready for the challenge.
Bottom Line
Yes, it’s disappointing that the Bears won’t get the draft picks. But that doesn’t mean this was a misstep by the front office. Letting Cunningham pursue this opportunity was the right call - for him, for the Bears’ internal culture, and for the league as a whole.
And for Falcons fans? They just landed a sharp football mind with a deep scouting background and a passion for the city. Atlanta’s front office just got stronger - and that’s a win worth watching.