Falcons Name Ian Cunningham General Manager, Finalizing New Football Leadership Trio

The Atlanta Falcons have officially filled the final piece of their football leadership overhaul.

Ian Cunningham, a respected executive with championship experience and deep roots in player evaluation, has been named the team’s new general manager following meetings Thursday in Atlanta with owner and chairman Arthur M. Blank and team leadership.

Cunningham arrives in Atlanta after four seasons with the Chicago Bears, where he served as assistant general manager and helped guide the franchise to an NFC North title in 2025. He will report directly to Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan, completing a new leadership structure alongside head coach Kevin Stefanski.

For Ryan, the decision was clear.

“Ian’s vision for this organization aligned exactly with what we were looking for,” Ryan said. “He’s been part of Super Bowl-winning front offices, he understands what it takes to build sustainable contenders, and he’s worked across every area of talent evaluation. Pairing him with Coach Stefanski is something we’re really excited about.”

Cunningham’s résumé reflects both patience and progression. In Chicago, his tenure was marked by impactful roster construction, with multiple acquisitions earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. The Bears’ 2025 offense finished among the league’s top units, built largely by players added during Cunningham’s time in the front office.

But his path to Atlanta was shaped long before his time in the NFC North.

Prior to joining the Bears, Cunningham spent five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, playing a key role in the organization’s personnel department during its Super Bowl-winning 2017 campaign. During his rise from director of college scouting to director of player personnel, the Eagles made the playoffs four times and captured two division titles.

His NFL front office journey began in Baltimore, where he spent nine seasons with the Ravens across multiple scouting roles. During that stretch, Baltimore reached the postseason six times and won Super Bowl XLVII, giving Cunningham early exposure to a championship-caliber operation known for discipline, consistency, and long-term vision.

For Cunningham, the Atlanta opportunity is both professional and personal.

Growing up in Roswell during one of the city’s most vibrant sports eras, he witnessed firsthand what winning teams mean to the city. Now, he’s tasked with helping bring that energy back.

“This is an incredible honor,” Cunningham said. “Atlanta sports shaped me as a kid, and this city’s passion is real. To now be in a position to help lead the Falcons forward is something I don’t take lightly. Matt, Kevin, and I share the same vision, and now it’s time to put in the work.”

Before moving into scouting, Cunningham briefly pursued his playing dreams as an undrafted offensive lineman with the Kansas City Chiefs. He later earned degrees from the University of Virginia and steadily built a reputation as a detail-oriented evaluator with a collaborative leadership style.

Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank praised Cunningham’s approach, emphasizing both his intellect and character.

“He’s driven, thoughtful, and relentlessly curious,” Blank said. “Ian challenges conventional thinking while remaining grounded in accountability and trust. We believe the leadership structure now in place positions this organization to compete at the highest level.”

With Matt Ryan overseeing football operations, Kevin Stefanski leading the sideline, and Ian Cunningham shaping the roster, the Falcons have officially turned the page — and for the first time in years, the vision feels clearly defined.

Now comes the hard part: building it.