Why he’s a candidate: Cunningham has worked his way through the team ranks, accumulating experience essentially at each level in a front office apart from the very top. He has done so with teams that were successful, too, so he knows how a well-oiled machine operates. That perspective would be beneficial to the Falcons, considering they have not made the playoffs since 2017.
Better yet, Cunningham helped the Bears reach rather quick success with a new head coach in Ben Johnson and a young quarterback in Caleb Williams this season, which will be a similar situation for the Falcons in 2026. Chicago went 5-12 during Williams’ rookie year before improving to 11-6 in his second season. Cunningham, in theory, could help build a roster around Penix, or whoever the quarterback is, and turn the productivity around. He watched — helped — Poles do it.