After interviewing him for the third time this month on Thursday, the Falcons agreed to hire Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham as their GM.
Earlier this month, he interviewed for a different Falcons position — president of football, which went to former quarterback Matt Ryan. Cunningham had his first GM interview with the Falcons on Friday and met with them in person Thursday.
The NFL program that awards teams two compensatory third-round picks when minority candidates leave for GM jobs elsewhere does not apply to the Bears, as Ryan is considered the team’s primary football decision-maker by the league.
The new General Manager of your Atlanta Falcons, Ian Cunningham! https://t.co/Xjj97UmZV6 pic.twitter.com/OAc08VoZVI
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 30, 2026
General manager Ryan Poles created the assistant GM position upon his arrival in 2022 and quickly hired Cunningham, with whom he is close.
Poles and Ryan are good friends, too, having attended Boston College together.
Cunningham has been a finalist for other GM jobs in recent years, turning down the Cardinals job in 2023 and talking with the Titans and Jaguars last offseason.
"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity they gave me and everything I've learned from them over my years with the Bears," Cunningham said in a statement. "It has been a first-class experience, and I will never forget what they, our staff, coaches, players and the great fans of Chicago have done for me."
