Ian Cunningham Reflects on Chicago Tenure, Begins New Chapter as Falcons GM
Ian Cunningham has traded in his Chicago Bears blazer for a sharp red tie and a new title-General Manager of the Atlanta Falcons. It’s a big moment for Cunningham, who just a few years ago was grinding behind the scenes in personnel departments. Now, he’s the man tasked with steering the Falcons into their next era.
Five days after the hire became official, Cunningham stood at the podium in Atlanta, flanked by team president of football operations Matt Ryan. It was a full-circle moment for Cunningham, who grew up a Falcons fan and now gets to shape the future of the franchise he once rooted for.
But before looking ahead, he took time to look back-especially at his most recent stop in Chicago.
A Journey Through the Ranks
Cunningham’s NFL journey began in 2008 with the Baltimore Ravens, where he started as a personnel assistant and worked his way up to area scout. From there, he moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles, rising through the scouting ranks to become director of college scouting and eventually director of player personnel by 2021.
Then came the move to Chicago, where he served as assistant GM under Ryan Poles for four seasons. Cunningham didn’t mince words when reflecting on what that opportunity meant to him.
“It’s been a long four years,” Cunningham said. “They wrapped their arms around me, gave me an opportunity when they never had an assistant GM in that storied franchise’s history. Forever appreciative of that and thankful for them-and especially Ryan.”
Cunningham and Poles didn’t exactly walk into an ideal situation. Their first season together in 2022 ended with a 3-14 record.
The next two years weren’t much better-7-10 in 2023 and 5-12 in 2024. But they stayed the course, trusting the process of a full-scale rebuild.
And in 2025, that patience paid off.
Building a Winner in Chicago
The Bears turned the corner in a big way last season, finishing 11-6 and capturing the NFC North title. It marked the franchise’s first division crown in over a decade and included a playoff win over the rival Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.
That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of smart drafting, savvy free-agent signings, and a clear organizational vision. Cunningham played a major role in shaping the roster that finally broke through, and he made sure to acknowledge the people who helped make it possible.
“Obviously, Matt [Ryan] has a longer relationship with Ryan [Poles], but we went through the fire together,” Cunningham said. “We started off a little rocky, and to be able to come out the other end this past season with the NFC North title-that journey, that was fun. That was fun to be a part of.”
A New Era in Atlanta
Now, Cunningham takes the reins in Atlanta, where he’ll bring that same steady, long-term approach to a Falcons team looking for stability and direction. His experience in building a roster from the ground up in Chicago should serve him well as he tackles his first GM job.
Meanwhile, the Bears have a key decision to make of their own: who will replace Cunningham as assistant GM? One name to watch is Jeff King, currently the team’s senior director of player personnel. If Chicago opts to promote from within, King could be a natural fit.
Cunningham’s departure marks the end of a chapter for the Bears-but also the beginning of a new one for the Falcons. And if his track record in Chicago is any indication, Atlanta fans have reason to be optimistic.