The Atlanta Falcons lean on relationships with their new president of football operations in their next general manager hire from the Chicago Bears.
The Atlanta Falcons have been looking for their next general manager after an overhaul of the front office and coaching staff. After hiring former quarterback Matt Ryan as newly created president of football operations, the team set in a new organizational structure that makes their GM role not as high with overall authority than other operations. Nonetheless, the Falcons found their next general manager, hiring over assistant general manager Ian Cunningham from the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Cunningham has been the assistant GM for the Bears since 2022 and was instrumental in the team’s turnaround that saw them win the NFC North title and go 11-6. General manager Ryan Poles is quite familiar with Matt Ryan, as the two played together at Boston College. The two have maintained a relationship throughout the years, which likely helped lead to a natural vision and fit within the more unique organizational structure in Atlanta under Ryan.
Here is the full story from Bears Roundtable writer Sam Phalen on the departure of their assistant GM and how Atlanta’s structure might complicate their compensatory picks.
Cunningham got his first start in NFL scouting and personnel as a personnel assistant for the Baltimore Ravens in 2008. He will replace former general manager Terry Fontenot, who Atlanta fired alongside coach Raheem Morris earlier this month. The Falcons haven’t had a winning record since 2017 and haven’t made the postseason since then. The new heads of the organization in Ryan, Cunningham, and new coach Kevin Stefanski will look to change that.