Falcones interview Ian Cunningham for General Manager

The Falcons are looking for a new general manager, with Matt Ryan named president of football operations.

Year, Ga. - The Atlanta Falcons is looking for a new general manager after separating with Terry Fonenot after the 2025 season. A new -look leadership group, including Falcons Football President Matt Ryan - leads the search for his successor with the help of ZRG Partners and Sportology Group.

"We're looking for people who will work well together," Ryan said of the survey during his introductory news conference."And that doesn't mean best friends. You have to have a professional, really strong working relationship. Sometimes that comes with seeing things a little differently. But the best of the best find ways to reach common ground."

"We're going down that road at the same time as we're looking for both a head coach and a general manager, so that's what we're looking for. We're looking to find two people who feel very comfortable in their roles, but also can create a really strong working relationship together."

On January 17, the Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach.With a two-time coach of the year in the building, Atlanta turns its attention to the general manager search.

The Falcons will post these interviews after they are done with each candidate.We will provide updates here, along with important information and background on each candidate.

The NFL has specific rules about how and when teams can conduct these interviews.They are outlined here.

The Falcons have officially completed interviews with Ian Cunningham for general manager.

Interview date: Friday, January 23

Current Role: Cunningham has been the Assistant General Manager of the Chicago Bears since 2022.

- Cunningham has 18 years of NFL experience, the last four with the Bears.He was the first assistant general manager in Chicago, joining the franchise with general manager Ryan Poles.The Bears won the NFC North in 2025, their first division title since 2018.

- Prior to his time with the Bears, Cunningham spent five years with the Philadelphia Eagles, serving as director of college football (2017-18), assistant director of player personnel (2019-20) and director of player personnel (2021).The Eagles reached the second round four times during Cunningham's tenure, including a Super Bowl victory in his first season.

- Cunningham's start in the league came with the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he spent nine seasons as a player personnel assistant (2008-12) and area scout (2013-16).The Ravens went to the playoffs in each of those years and won the Super Bowl in his final season.

- Cunningham was an offensive lineman at the University of Virginia, so he knows what it's like to be a collegiate athlete.

Local connection: Former Falcons field marshal and new football president Matt Ryan was a college teammate of the Poles, which could bode well for Cunningham.The Poles blocked Ryan as an offensive lineman at Boston College.

Cunningham was also one of five candidates the Falcons interviewed for the new football president position, which ultimately went to Ryan.

Why is it a candidate: Cunningham has made his way through level, earned in the end of the first level of the first step.She has done with successful groups, so he knows the best of a good ice cream.Consider they don't make the Playeffs from 2017, that feels benefit for Falcons.

Even better, Cunningham helped the Bears achieve quick success with a new head coach in Ben Johnson and a young quarterback in Caleb Williams this season, which will be the same situation for the Falcons in 2026. Chicago went 5-12 in Williams' freshman year before going 11-6 in his second season.Cunningham, in theory, could help build a roster around Penix, or whoever is at quarterback, and get them productive.He watched – helped – the Poles do it.

Join us as we look back at some of our favorite photos from game days during the Atlanta Falcons' 2025-2026 season.