Feb. 5, 2026, 6:59 p.m. CT

The Chicago Bears lost assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, who took a new role with the Atlanta Falcons.Chicago expected to receive two third-round compensatory picks for Cunningham’s departure under the Rooney Rule.The Bears may not receive the picks because Matt Ryan is the Falcons’ President of Football Operations.Ryan has publicly stated that Cunningham will be in charge of the roster, which could support the Bears’ case for the picks.

The Chicago Bears have seen several departures in the front office and coaching staff this offseason, including assistant general manager Ian Cunningham taking the Atlanta Falcons’ GM job.

It’s a departure several years in the making as Cunningham was always primed for a promotion, and the consolation prize for Chicago was always going to be two third-round compensatory picks (one for two consecutive NFL drafts). But, at least right now, the Bears aren’t slated to receive comp picks for Cunningham given Matt Ryan is the Falcons’ President of Football Operations and Cunningham wouldn’t be the main guy in charge.

But from everything that we’ve heard, Cunningham would be the guy steering the ship in Atlanta, which means Chicago should be receiving comp picks following his loss (via the Rooney Rule). But don’t take it from me. Hear it straight from the mouth of Ryan, who explains that Cunningham will be in charge of the roster, which indicates a promotion and would warrant compensatory picks.

“Ian’s in charge,” Ryan told NFL on CBS. “Ian’s in charge of (free agency and the NFL draft). I’m looking forward to learning about this. I said it the other day in Ian’s presser, I’ve never sat in a draft meeting. Monday’s going to be the first time I’m sitting in a draft meeting, so I’ve got a lot to learn. Sitting, observing, being a fly on the wall. If there’s something Ian has a question about or something I can help with, I’m all ears and I’m happy to share my opinion. But Ian is driving this boat, and he is the one leading us moving forward.”

The NFL typically awards compensatory picks in early-to-late March, so nothing is official right now. And if the Bears want to appeal the league’s potential stance on no comp picks for Cunningham, this video of Ryan describing how Cunningham will indeed be running the Falcons would certainly help Chicago’s case.

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