Though he will not be the “primary” football executive worthy of giving the Chicago Bears two compensatory third-round picks, new Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham is setting up his structure.
More News: Bears get bad news on Raiders’ Maxx Crosby trade front
And now a former Bears general manager is out.
Matt Ryan, the new Falcons president of football hired Cunningham away from the Bears, where he served as an assistant GM for Ryan Poles.
With Ryan and Cunningham running the show, former Bears general manager Ryan Pace is parting ways with the organization, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
“The Falcons and VP of football operations/player personnel Ryan Pace have parted ways, per sources,” Pelissero posted on X. “Pace, the former Bears GM, was highly thought of in Atlanta. But he was brought in by close friend Terry Fontenot, who was fired last month, and will have options elsewhere.”
The Falcons and VP of football operations/player personnel Ryan Pace have parted ways, per sources.
Pace, the former Bears GM, was highly thought of in Atlanta. But he was brought in by close friend Terry Fontenot, who was fired last month, and will have options elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/E6dOrpbDyW
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 7, 2026
Former Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace is out in Atlanta
Jan 3, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Pace walks on the sidelines before Chicago Bears against Detroit Lions NFL game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
More News: Bears: 3 top candidates to replace OC Declan Doyle
Pace was hired as the Falcons senior personnel executive in 2022. He moved up to becoming their director of player personnel in 2023. He earned the promotion to VP in 2024.
The Falcons are hoping the lessons Cunningham learned from the Bears under Poles will be better for the team than the direction Pace had taken Atlanta in recent seasons.
The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris after the season and hired Kevin Stefanski as his replacement.
Atlanta appears to be a mess this offseason with a new and questionable structure at the top with Ryan and Cunningham sorting out responsibilities. Cunningham didn’t make the decision to hire Stefanski, who failed miserably during his tenure with the Cleveland Browns.
For now, Cunningham needs to focus on free agency and the draft to build a better roster for Stefanski. The Falcons clearly believe they have a better chance to find key players without Pace.
For More Chicago Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks
Bears legend Brian Urlacher urges blockbuster offseason trade
Read More
For More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE