Bears Lose Front Office Executive Ian Cunningham to Falcons Amid Rising Team Momentum

The Chicago Bears’ 2025 season marked a turning point for the franchise, with Ben Johnson leading the team to its first playoff win in 15 years. Quarterback Caleb Williams emerged as one of the NFL’s top young passers, signaling that Chicago may be on the rise for years to come.

Despite this success, the Bears experienced a setback off the field on Thursday. Ian Cunningham, the team’s assistant general manager, accepted a promotion to general manager with the Atlanta Falcons, leaving the Bears after four seasons in the front office. Cunningham had joined Chicago in 2022 alongside former GM Ryan Poles and quickly became a key figure in player personnel and organizational strategy.

While the promotion represents a career milestone for Cunningham, the Bears will not receive draft compensation for his departure. According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, compensatory picks are not awarded in this case because Atlanta’s new president of football, Matt Ryan, is considered the team’s lead executive.

Cunningham’s move highlights both the opportunities created by Chicago’s upward trajectory and the challenges teams face in retaining talented minority executives in a league striving for greater diversity in top roles.

1. Cunningham’s Career and Promotion

Ian Cunningham’s rise through the NFL ranks has been notable. Starting as assistant GM with Chicago, he played a major role in player evaluations, acquisitions, and organizational strategy, contributing to the Bears’ successful 2025 campaign. In Atlanta, Cunningham steps into the general manager role, becoming the second Black GM in Falcons history after Terry Fontenot. The promotion marks a significant milestone, placing him in a position to shape personnel decisions at the highest level. Under normal circumstances, the NFL awards compensatory draft picks to teams losing minority executives to head coaching or top executive roles. This policy, implemented in 2020 through an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement, is intended to promote equal opportunity across the league. However, the Falcons’ organizational structure prevents the Bears from receiving picks, as Matt Ryan holds ultimate authority as president of football. Cunningham and the head coach now report directly to Ryan, making him the primary executive in charge of football operations.

2. NFL Rules and Compensatory Picks

Compensatory picks are typically awarded to teams that lose free agents or minority executives without equivalent replacements. The system aims to ensure that teams aren’t penalized for contributing to league diversity or losing valuable talent. Had Atlanta not restructured its executive hierarchy, the Bears would have been eligible for two third-round compensatory selections for Cunningham’s departure. These picks can be valuable assets for teams looking to build depth or acquire young talent in the draft. The 2020 CBA amendment clarified that minority staff moving into top roles triggers compensatory picks, emphasizing the league’s commitment to creating pathways for underrepresented executives. However, the Falcons’ decision to install Matt Ryan as president of football alters the chain of command, effectively bypassing the Bears in the compensatory system. For Chicago, this means no additional draft capital despite losing a key executive, underscoring the nuances of NFL rules in executive compensation.

3. Bears’ Draft Outlook

Even without compensatory picks for Cunningham, the Bears enter the 2026 NFL Draft with seven selections. They hold their original picks in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, giving the team multiple opportunities to address roster needs and build around rising stars like Caleb Williams. In addition, the Bears acquired a fourth-round selection from the Los Angeles Rams and a seventh-rounder from the Cleveland Browns, further strengthening their draft position. These picks will be critical as Chicago looks to continue its upward trajectory under Ben Johnson. The front office transition highlights both the challenge of retaining talented executives and the importance of strategic planning in sustaining team success. By leveraging their existing draft assets, the Bears hope to maintain momentum on the field while continuing to develop organizational leadership. Ultimately, while Cunningham’s departure is a loss, the Bears are positioned to continue building a competitive roster through both the draft and strong leadership within their remaining staff.