Falcons Hire Ian Cunningham as New General Manager

Former Bears assistant GM takes over football operations in Atlanta

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:15am

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The Atlanta Falcons have hired Ian Cunningham as their new general manager, the team announced on Thursday. Cunningham, who previously served as the assistant GM for the Chicago Bears, will report to team president Matt Ryan and work alongside new head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Why it matters

The Falcons are undergoing a major leadership overhaul after an 8-9 season in 2025, firing both their head coach and general manager. Cunningham's hiring represents a key piece of the team's efforts to rebuild and get back to contending for the playoffs.

The details

Cunningham, 40, has extensive experience in NFL front offices, including stints with the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Chicago Bears. He was one of two candidates, along with Houston Texans assistant GM James Liipfert, to receive a second interview for the Falcons' GM job.

  • Cunningham spent the last four seasons (2022-2025) as the assistant GM for the Chicago Bears.
  • The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 season in 2025.
  • Kevin Stefanski was named the new Falcons head coach on January 17, 2026.

The players

Ian Cunningham

The new general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, who previously served as the assistant GM for the Chicago Bears.

Matt Ryan

The former MVP quarterback who is now serving in Atlanta's newly created president of football role.

Kevin Stefanski

The new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, hired on January 17, 2026.

James Liipfert

The Houston Texans assistant GM who was the other candidate to receive a second interview for the Falcons' GM job.

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What they’re saying

“It was evident through our rigorous interview process Ian was the right choice for our general manager position. His vision for our team and organization aligned exactly with the type of leader we were seeking to help take the Falcons to the next level.”

— Matt Ryan, President of Football Operations

What’s next

Cunningham and new head coach Kevin Stefanski will now work together to build the Falcons' roster and coaching staff as they aim to return the team to playoff contention.

The takeaway

The Falcons are making a concerted effort to revamp their leadership and put the right people in place to turn the team around after a disappointing 2025 season. Cunningham's extensive front office experience and alignment with the team's vision make him an intriguing choice to lead the Falcons' football operations.