The Atlanta Falcons have officially named Ian Cunningham as their new general manager, putting a capstone on the franchise’s offseason front office overhaul.
Cunningham, who has been the Chicago Bears’ assistant GM since 2022, will join new head coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football operations Matt Ryan in a restructured leadership team aimed at turning around a team that has struggled to post a winning season or reach the playoffs since 2017. Owner Arthur Blank praised Cunningham’s intellect, work ethic, and commitment to challenging the status quo, saying he shares the organization’s goal of building a consistent, championship-caliber team.
Cunningham, 40, brings a wealth of experience across the league, having worked in the Ravens’ personnel department from 2008 to 2016 and as the Eagles’ director of college scouting from 2017 to 2021, contributing to two Super Bowl-winning teams during that span.
In Chicago, he played a key role in restructuring the roster, helping hire offensive-minded head coach Ben Johnson, and guiding the Bears to an NFC North title and a playoff appearance. His combination of scouting acumen and analytical expertise has long made him a rising figure in front office circles, and he stood out among a strong field of candidates that included Chiefs assistant GM Mike Bradway, 49ers director of scouting Josh Williams, former Jets GM Joe Douglas, and Texans assistant GM James Liipfert.
Cunningham succeeds Terry Fontenot, who was let go along with head coach Raheem Morris after a disappointing 8-9 season in 2025. With Stefanski calling the plays and Ryan overseeing operations, Cunningham now has the task of building a roster capable of competing immediately while also establishing long-term stability for the franchise.
His hiring marks a pivotal moment for Atlanta, which has not advanced past the regular season in nearly a decade. The Falcons are betting that Cunningham’s experience with championship-caliber organizations, his ability to blend analytics with traditional talent evaluation, and his track record in roster construction will help them finally break through and end years of underperformance.
