Bears Left Empty-Handed After Falcons Hire Ian Cunningham-Here’s Why It Matters
Chicago Bears fans have every reason to be frustrated right now. When Ian Cunningham left his post as assistant general manager in Chicago to take over as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, it looked like the Bears were in line for a pair of third-round compensatory picks under the NFL’s Rooney Rule. But in a twist that’s left many scratching their heads, those picks aren’t coming-and it all comes down to who the league says is really running football operations in Atlanta.
Let’s break this down.
The Rooney Rule, which has evolved over the years, includes a provision that rewards teams with draft compensation when a minority candidate is hired away to become a head coach or a primary football executive-think general manager or equivalent-by another team. That’s supposed to incentivize the development and promotion of diverse leadership across the league.
Cunningham fits the bill. He’s a minority candidate.
He was hired away from Chicago. He now holds the title of general manager in Atlanta.
So what’s the holdup?
According to the NFL, it’s about titles-and more specifically, who holds the real power in the Falcons’ front office. That person, per league clarification, is Matt Ryan.
Yes, that Matt Ryan-the longtime Falcons quarterback turned executive-who now holds the title of president of football operations. And because the league considers him the “primary football executive,” the Bears aren’t eligible for the compensatory picks.
Now, here’s where it gets murky.
In a recent interview, Ryan himself downplayed his role, saying Cunningham is the one making the football decisions and that he’s “just a fly on the wall.” That’s a pretty strong statement, especially when it’s coming from the guy the league says is at the top of the football food chain in Atlanta. Still, when ProFootballTalk reached out for clarification, the NFL held firm: titles are what matter, and Ryan’s title wins out.
That leaves the Bears in a tough spot. They developed Cunningham, gave him a platform to grow, and watched him earn a top job elsewhere. But because of how the Falcons structured their front office-and how the league interprets that structure-Chicago walks away with nothing in return.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially for a franchise that’s been focused on building through smart front office hires and long-term development. And it’s not just a Bears issue-it’s a broader reflection of how the Rooney Rule is being applied, and in some cases, undermined.
This offseason, there were 10 head coaching vacancies across the NFL. Only one was filled by a minority candidate.
That stat alone has reignited scrutiny of the league’s commitment to diversity in leadership. And now, with this Cunningham situation, the conversation is only getting louder.
The NFL says it’s standing by its policy. But when the person being credited as the “primary football executive” is openly saying he’s not the one making decisions, it raises a fair question: is the league following the spirit of the rule, or just the letter?
For the Bears, the damage is already done. No picks.
No compensation. Just frustration.
But for the league as a whole, this might be the kind of moment that forces a closer look at how the Rooney Rule is being enforced-and whether it’s truly serving the purpose it was designed for.
Because if teams can sidestep the rule by assigning titles that don’t reflect actual decision-making power, then the system isn’t just flawed-it’s broken.