The Atlanta Falcons’ coaching staff and management are at last coming together. After hiring Kevin Stefanski as their head coach, the Falcons have roped in a new manager.

As per an X post by Adam Schefter, ESPN reported that Ian Cunningham, the former Chicago Bears assistant manager, has found a new job with the Falcons as their new general manager.

Cunningham was with the Bears for four seasons after joining in 2022. As the Ryan Poles’ right-hand man, Cunningham revamped the franchise for the better.

He picked out head coach Ben Johnson, whose offense-minded strategies resulted in a playoff appearance and an 11-6 record for the Bears. 

A big turnaround from the 5-12 record in 2024, for which Johnson has been named a finalist for the 2025 AP Coach of the Year award. His success precedes the Bears. 

In 2017, he was a front-office staff member and contributed to the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl Championship. 

The Falcons Have Rebuilt Themselves With Many New Hires This Season

Matt Ryan, the new President of the Falcons’ football operations, was deeply involved in the search and released a new statement upon the hiring.

“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,” he began.

“Throughout Ian's career, including Super Bowl championships in Baltimore and Philadelphia, Ian has demonstrated the drive and focus. Pairing him with Coach Stefanski is exciting for us, and we can't wait to see them bring our shared vision to life in everything we do, starting right now,” Ryan said.

Meanwhile, Cunningham, speaking about his new role, called himself a childhood Falcons fan who is looking forward to propelling the franchise.

“It’s truly an honor to be the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, and I couldn’t be more thankful to Arthur Blank, Matt Ryan, and the entire search committee for believing in me,” Cunningham said.

“As a Falcons fan growing up in Roswell, I can’t wait to help bring that fire and energy back to the city.”

The Falcons ended third in the NFC this season with an 8-9 record. Franchise owner Arthur Blank had stated he was looking to rebuild the team, and hiring Cunningham might be the last step he needed to take. 

What do you think about the new Falcons team? Will these new hires bring about a positive change? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Joyita Das