Ian Cunningham, the Bears’ assistant general manager, is one of the finalists and has emerged as the perceived front-runner in some reports. Cunningham previously worked with the Ravens and Eagles, and he has been part of Chicago’s personnel structure since 2022 under GM Ryan Poles. He was also a finalist for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ GM opening last year, according to various industry insiders.
The other finalist is James Liipfert, the Texans’ assistant GM. Liipfert spent nine years in scouting with the Patriots before joining Houston in 2019 as director of college scouting, climbing to roles such as executive director of player personnel and, most recently, assistant GM. He is viewed as a strong alternative should Cunningham not be selected.
Beyond the two finalists, the Falcons have previously interviewed several other candidates for the role, including Mike Bradway (Chiefs assistant GM), Joe Douglas (Eagles senior personnel director), Andy Weidl (Steelers assistant GM), and Josh Williams (SF 49ers scouting/football director). These interviews reflect the team’s broad search for a candidate with the right blend of scouting, evaluation, and leadership.
The decision timeline is still fluid, but sources indicate the Falcons could finalize their pick by the end of the week as they seek out a GM who will mesh with the organization’s leadership and set the direction for the franchise’s personnel operations moving forward.
Fontenot was fired after the 2025 season, making this a pivotal offseason for Atlanta as the club aims to restore stability and strategic clarity at the top of the football operations department.
This summary reflects reporting from Albert Breer and associated outlets, noting that Cunningham and Liipfert are the two finalists for the Falcons’ GM job and are slated for second interviews in Atlanta this week.
