NFL rules cost Bears valuable draft picks. Fans deserve answers for this frustrating executive departure and lost compensation.
On Thursday night, Chicago Bears Assistant General Manager Ian Cunningham was officially hired by the Atlanta Falcons.
He will be their next General Manager, which typically means that the Bears will be getting some draft pick compensation since Cunningham was a minority hire under the Rooney Rule.
Cunningham had been with the Bears since 2022, joining the franchise at the same time that current GM Ryan Poles did. Cunningham helped turn the franchise around with Poles.
However, due to an NFL loophole, the Bears won't be getting draft picks.
This wasn't the first time Cunningham had interviewed with the Falcons. He initially was considered for their President of Football opening, but that went to former Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan.
As explained by The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs, since the NFL views Ryan as the primary executive and not Cunningham, the Bears can't receive draft picks. If Cunningham had been hired as the President of Football, Chicago would have gotten the picks.
Bears fans are definitely valid in their feelings about this, especially considering that it isn't the first time something like this has happened.
In 2021, the Washington Commanders made a minority hire, bringing in former San Francisco 49ers Vice President of Player Personnel Martin Mayhew. Mayhew was hired as the GM, but reported to the head coach at the time, Ron Rivera, with the help of Marty Hurney in the front office.
Just like with Cunningham, Mayhew wasn't the primary executive with the Commanders, yet the 49ers were still awarded draft pick compensation for the next two years.
This is an interesting stance from the NFL. A similar situation happened with the 49ers five years ago, but now things have changed with Cunningham and the Bears in 2026.
Bears fans have every right to feel confused and angry after the NFL's decision. If the compensation had been awarded to Chicago, it would have received a third-round pick for 2026 and 2027.
We've seen how valuable having extra draft picks can be.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bears had three second-round picks and selected Luther Burden, Ozzy Trapilo and Shemar Turner. Turner, unfortunately, suffered a season-ending injury, but Burden and Trapilo had significant contributions as rookies.
This year's draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 23-25. The Bears have the 25th overall pick.
Having multiple third-round picks this year is a luxury that the Bears won't have, sadly.