Chicago Bears could lose critical member of front office this offseason

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles deserves the lion’s share of the credit for the team’s reconstructed roster. But every hero needs a sidekick, and Poles has had one of the best since becoming the Bears’ GM.

Assistant general manager Ian Cunningham has been Poles’ right-hand man, and has helped guide Chicago’s main decision-maker when emotions could’ve gotten the best of him.

Remember the 2024 NFL Draft when it was Cunningham who stopped Poles from trading up for Rome Odunze?

That proved to be the right strategy; Odunze slid to the Bears in the first round without Chicago having to give up any assets.

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It’s that kind of steady hand that has Cunningham as the front-runner to land the Atlanta Falcons general manager job this offseason, according to multiple reports.

“The Falcons requested an interview with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham for their GM job, per source,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shared on X. “Cunningham has been a finalist for multiple GM jobs in recent years. Bears GM Ryan Poles played at BC with Matt Ryan, who’s widely expected to be ATL’s new football president.”

Cunningham has served as the Bears’ assistant general manager since 2022. Before coming to Chicago, he served in a variety of roles with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2017-2021, including Director of Player Personnel in his final season there.

If Ian Cunningham lands a general manager job this offseason, the Chicago Bears will receive two compensatory picks, both in the third round (one in 2026 and one in 2027).

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