After a few years of coming close in interviews, Ian Cunningham is finally leaving the Bears for a general manager position. The now former Bears assistant general manager is headed to the Atlanta Falcons to be the team’s new GM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. So now we can add finding a new assistant general manager to Ryan Poles’ offseason to-do list.
Bears GM Ryan Poles was Falcons president of football Matt Ryan’s guard at Boston College. The two have remained close, and now Ryan is bringing Poles’ right-hand man in Chicago, Ian Cunningham, to Atlanta to become his GM. t.co/aLyRNAYOQF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2026Ian Cunningham Takes Falcons GM Job
Usually, the Bears would receive compensation picks for having a minority candidate leave for a promotion. However, according to CBS, the Bears will not be receiving said compensation picks as the league sees this as a lateral move due to new team president Matt Ryan being the top decision maker in Atlanta. Technically, the Bears could have blocked the move since it was considered lateral, but Ryan Poles and company clearly chose not to.
It’s a bit of a bummer for Poles and the Bears to have developed a candidate in Ian Cunningham that’s seen as a rising star and not receive picks when he departs, but still, it’s a great opportunity for Cunningham. Not to mention, he’s come close to GM gigs in each of the past two offseasons, earning multiple interviews, was a finalist for Jacksonville’s GM job and Washington’s GM job, and even turned down the chance to be Arizona’s GM in 2023. Needless to say, Cunningham has been more than due for a general manager position.
The connection of Cunningham to the Falcons makes a ton of sense, too. His now-former boss, Ryan Poles, and new boss Matt Ryan were teammates and roommates at Boston College, and they’re still close today. So one would have to imagine Ryan valued Poles’ opinion on Cunningham.
While Ian Cunningham won’t be the top decision-maker in Atlanta, this position likely is an upgrade for him. With Ben Johnson seemingly gaining more decision-making influence in Chicago, Cunningham was likely more like the #3 in the organization instead of the #2 in that regard. So, though he won’t be truly calling the shots in Atlanta, he’ll likely have a greater influence than he would here.
Good luck, Ian!
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