– 🏈 What happened: Atlanta announced they completed an interview with Ian Cunningham for their general manager opening, under newly hired President of Football Matt Ryan, ahead of Conference Championship Weekend.
– 🧭 Who is Cunningham: Bears assistant GM since 2022, a trusted right-hand man to GM Ryan Poles. He’s been a frequent GM/interview target over the years and has a strong connection to Ryan.
– 🤝 Why he’s in the mix: Poles brought Cunningham to Chicago, and Ryan’s involvement in the Falcons’ hiring process keeps Cunningham in the spotlight as a top candidate.
– ⚖️ Compensation note: Under the Rooney Rule, a team losing a minority executive for a top leadership job could earn two third-round picks, but that doesn’t apply here because Matt Ryan is considered the primary decision-maker for the Falcons.
– ⏳ What’s next: Falcons are expected to decide in the next few days, with Cunningham as a likely frontrunner given the close ties and Poles’ influence.
