The Chicago Bears are coming off one of their most promising seasons in recent memory, and with success comes attention - not just for the players on the field, but for the minds behind the scenes. And right now, the Bears are holding onto one of their most valuable assets: assistant general manager Ian Cunningham.
Cunningham was widely viewed as a top contender for the Atlanta Falcons’ general manager job. The connection made sense - Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan has ties to Bears GM Ryan Poles, his former college teammate, and leaned on him for guidance during the hiring process. Cunningham, Poles’ trusted right-hand man since 2022, seemed like a natural fit.
But over the weekend, the Falcons took a different direction, reportedly locking in Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach. That move appears to have shifted the GM search as well, and Cunningham is now unlikely to land in Atlanta - at least for now.
For Cunningham, it’s a tough break. He interviewed for the job back on Jan. 9, and given his resume, he’s more than earned a shot to lead his own front office.
But for the Bears? This is a quiet win - and a big one at that.
Let’s not understate Cunningham’s impact in Chicago. According to the team, he’s been deeply involved in everything from personnel decisions to draft strategy, analytics, and player engagement. He brings championship pedigree to the table too, having worked in the front offices of both the Baltimore Ravens during their 2012 Super Bowl run and the Philadelphia Eagles when they hoisted the Lombardi in 2017.
That kind of experience doesn’t just walk through your doors every day. And when it does, you want to keep it around - especially when you're building something like the Bears are right now.
Cunningham has been instrumental in helping shape a roster that just went 11-6 and made it to the divisional round of the playoffs - their deepest postseason push since 2010. Yes, they fell to the Rams in a hard-fought overtime battle, but there’s no denying the arrow is pointing up in Chicago.
And while Cunningham surely has aspirations of running his own team - and likely will sooner rather than later - there’s a silver lining to him staying put. The Falcons, while intriguing on paper, face a long road ahead.
They’ve got some exciting young talent in Drake London and Bijan Robinson, but they’re also dealing with a murky quarterback situation. Michael Penix is recovering from a torn ACL, and without a first-round pick in this year’s draft (thanks to last year’s move for James Pearce Jr.), the options are limited.
Add in just over $18 million in cap space, and it’s clear Atlanta's rebuild won’t be a quick fix.
So while Cunningham may have missed out on this opportunity, he avoids stepping into a tough situation with limited resources. And the Bears? They get to keep a critical voice in the room as they look to take the next step in 2026.
This isn’t just about keeping talent - it’s about continuity. The Bears are building something sustainable, and having Cunningham stay on board makes that process smoother. Atlanta’s loss might just be Chicago’s gain, and if the Bears continue their upward trajectory, Cunningham’s role in that success will only become more apparent.
For now, he remains in Chicago - and that’s a win the Bears will gladly take.