The Chicago Bears could soon be without assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, who completed an interview with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles has long believed Cunningham is destined to become a general manager, and he nearly landed a role in 2024 before ultimately deciding to remain in Chicago after interviewing with the Arizona Cardinals. Following the Bears’ most successful season in 15 years, Atlanta emerged as a potential next stop.

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The Falcons have recently undergone a significant front-office overhaul, naming former star quarterback Matt Ryan as president of football operations and hiring Kevin Stefanski as head coach.

Under normal circumstances, if Cunningham were to leave for a general manager position elsewhere, the Bears would receive compensatory draft picks. However, because Ryan is viewed as Atlanta’s primary football decision-maker, Cunningham’s potential move would be classified as lateral, meaning Chicago would not receive compensatory picks, according to the Chicago Tribune.

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Because the move would be considered lateral, the Bears technically could have blocked Cunningham from interviewing with the Falcons. The fact that he met with Atlanta suggests Poles and the organization are not standing in his way.

Atlanta has cast a wide net in its search, also interviewing San Francisco director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, Kansas City Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Bradway, Philadelphia Eagles senior personnel director and adviser to the general manager Joe Douglas, Pittsburgh Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl, and Houston Texans assistant general manager James Liipfert.

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