Falcons GM Ian Cunningham champions the Bears' case, believing they were unfairly denied draft pick compensation by the NFL.
Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham has officially weighed in on the NFL's decision regarding draft pick compensation for his former employer.
As fans know, before joining the Falcons as an executive, Cunningham was the Assistant GM under current GM Ryan Poles with the Chicago Bears.
He joined the franchise in 2022, the same year Poles did. Cunningham also deserves credit for the turnaround that the Bears had.
Cunningham was interviewed twice by the Falcons for executive roles. First, it was for the President of Football opening. Cunningham wasn't hired for that position, and the Falcons gave it to former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan.
Then Cunningham went back and interviewed for the GM position previously held by Terry Fontenot. He was hired by the organization as GM, meaning the Bears should've gotten draft compensation, right? Wrong.
Instead, the NFL doesn't consider Cunningham to be the Falcons' primary football executive. That title goes to Ryan, who is the President of Football.
The NFL's decision obviously angered Bears fans around the country.
Cunningham gave his two cents on the matter at his NFL Combine media availability and agreed that the Bears should've received two draft picks after his hiring.
"Yeah, I haven't had much time to really dive into, like, the wording of it," Cunningham said. "It was always my interpretation that if a General Manager gets hired, that team would receive two third-round picks. I'm a General Manager. I was hired. I would think that they would get two third-round picks. I don't know the wording of it. That's just my perspective. I wouldn't be sitting here if it weren't for them giving me that job and helping me grow to get this job right now."
Cunningham isn't the only one who has spoken about it.
Poles went on record at the podium, saying the decision is still ongoing and that he's reached out to the NFL, awaiting a response. Even before the combine, Ryan shared that Cunningham will be in charge of draft picks and free agency, a role that a primary football executive would handle.
So, one question remains. If two different GMs are now saying that the Bears deserve draft pick compensation, then why hasn't the NFL reached a final decision?
The NFL can't ignore the Bears much longer, now that both Poles and Cunningham have spoken out about the disrespect the franchise has received from the league.
Things are getting interesting; get out the popcorn.