With the Chicago Bears eliminated from the playoffs, Atlanta moved quickly to line up their new general manager. That would be Chicago Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, who steps into his new role as Falcons
GM reporting to Matt Ryan and working with freshly minted head coach Kevin Stefanski to try to build this team into a winner.
Cunningham was a reported favorite for the job before either Matt Ryan or Kevin Stefanski were even hired, but the GM process was slowed as the Falcons focused on getting Stefanski on board and waiting for playoff teams to be bounced. There were likely other factors we weren’t privy to, as well, but the net effect is that the GM is joining behind his new colleagues and looking to hit the ground running.
Fortunately, Cunningham seems capable. Cunningham joins up with a strong background that features time in scouting and stints with the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Bears. Bears GM Ryan Poles has credited him for being an assistant who delivers good insights, hold Poles accountable for his thinking and decisions, and is willing to challenge decision-makers. The hope is that he’ll be able to translate that into a good relationship with Ryan and Stefanski, but one where he has zero qualms about trusting his own evaluations and pushing back on pressure from other parts of the organization. We want, above all, a competent general manager who feels empowered to guide the direction of this team without muddying or meddling.
Cunningham entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent for the Chiefs back in 2008, though he did not make their roster. He jumped into a personnel assistant job with the Ravens that same season and spent eight years with the organization, transitioning to area scout in 2013. The Eagles then hired him as the director of college scouting in 2017 and he quickly climbed the ranks, moving to assistant director of player personnel in 2019 and director of player personnel in 2021. The Bears then scooped him up as Ryan Poles’ assistant general manager in 2022, where he’s been ever since. The background in scouting and scouting college players in particular is welcome, given that this team needs to build through the draft even with limited resources to do so with in 2026.
While you never really know how general managers are going to fare in their first gig, Cunningham has a wealth of experience across multiple competent organizations and comes to Atlanta highly lauded by those who know him. That’s going to matter because Cunningham is joining an organization hungry to win about a full month after the season ended, with events like the Senior Bowl already underway and a pivotal (when is it not?) offseason looming. If Cunningham can fill some of the outsized holes on this roster, build better depth, and set this team up for a better 2026 and well beyond, he’ll be a very popular hire indeed. The Falcons are bringing him aboard as the first consequential front office hire of Matt Ryan’s tenure because they believe he can.
