The Atlanta Falcons named Ian Cunningham their new general manager Thursday, bringing in a front office executive with two Super Bowl rings and, most recently a division title with the Chicago Bears.
Credit: Atlanta Falcons
Cunningham, 40, spent the past four seasons as Chicago’s assistant general manager, a run that ended with the Bears claiming the NFC North crown in 2025. He’ll report to the newly hired president of football, Matt Ryan, and work alongside head coach Kevin Stefanski as the Falcons attempt to end an eight-year playoff drought.
“His vision for our team and organization aligned exactly with the type of leader we were seeking to help take the Falcons to the next level,” Ryan said in a statement.
The hire completes a restructured leadership team for a franchise that hasn’t reached the postseason or finished above .500 since 2017. Owner Arthur Blank fired general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris earlier this month after back-to-back 8-9 seasons, then installed Ryan to oversee football operations before hiring Stefanski on Jan. 17.
A resume built on championships
Cunningham’s NFL career includes stops with three organizations that won titles during his time there. He began as a player personnel assistant with Baltimore in 2008, working his way up to area scout before the Ravens captured Super Bowl XLVII in 2012.
He joined Philadelphia’s front office in 2017 as director of college scouting, just in time for the Eagles’ first Super Bowl victory. Over five seasons in Philadelphia, he earned promotions to assistant director of player personnel and then director of player personnel while the Eagles made four playoff appearances and won the NFC East twice.
In Chicago, Cunningham helped orchestrate several significant trades, including deals that sent linebacker Roquan Smith to Baltimore and defensive end Robert Quinn to Philadelphia in 2022 as the Bears began rebuilding.
Atlanta roots run deep
The Texas native has personal ties to Atlanta. His father, Louis Cunningham, served as vice president of marketing for the Atlanta Olympic Committee during the 1996 Summer Games, and the family lived in Roswell while Ian was growing up.
“As a Falcons fan growing up in Roswell when the Dirty Birds were rolling, the Braves were on fire, and the city was hosting the Summer Olympics, I lived the passion of Atlanta sports fans,” Cunningham said. “I can’t wait to be part of bringing that fire and energy back to the city.”
Cunningham was also a finalist for Atlanta’s president of football position before the organization hired Ryan.
Before entering front office work, Cunningham played offensive line at Virginia, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2007 and a master’s in education in 2008. He signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent in 2008 but didn’t make the active roster.