National reports keep connecting the dots that the Bears are one step closer to losing a top executive, but one detail could screw Chicago
Ian Cunningham is getting closer to landing a general manager role with the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL hiring cycle is starting to finally heat up around the league and within the next week we should start to see more hires continue to be finalized.
This week, the Miami Dolphins wrapped up their general manager search, hiring former Green Bay Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan, one of the top general manager candidates. That leaves the Atlanta Falcons as the only team in the league with a current general manager opening.
On Saturday, the Falcons made some strides on that front by hiring former quarterback Matt Ryan as the franchise’s first-ever president of football. Now, all eyes turn to the general manager and head coaching search with Ryan spearheading the operation.
Falcons GM search can finally begin with one Bears executive leading the race
During the search of the new president of football, the Falcons also held interviews with Carolina Panthers’ Brandt Tilis, Detroit Lions’ Mike Disner, San Francisco 49ers’ Josh Williams and Chicago Bears’ Ian Cunningham. All four front office executives are now expected to be top candidates for the Falcons’ general manager role as well.
A source with A to Z Sports confirmed earlier in the week that Cunningham, the Bears’ assistant general manager and right-hand man to general manager Ryan Poles, is expected to be a big player for this vacant position.
The reason why is two-fold. Cunningham has developed a strong reputation and has a tremendous background working inside an NFL front office during his time in Chicago and in previous stops with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens. Cunningham also has strong support from Poles, who has a close connection with Ryan after being teammates during their time at Boston College.
What’s next for Ian Cunningham, the Bears, and the Falcons’ general manager search?
Considering Ryan’s newly-created role with the Falcons, the team’s general manager position is technically considered a “secondary football executive” position, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. That means the general manager job is subject to assistant general manager league rules, so the Falcons don’t technically have to interview a candidate for this position.
Although, it’s highly likely that Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Ryan would still sit down with other potential candidates, including the four other candidates that interviewed for Ryan’s position. In order to interview Cunningham a second time, if they wish to do so, league rules state it cannot be done until the Bears are eliminated from the playoffs, with the first game being played later today.
As for the position itself, the team’s general manager is still expected to have control over the roster and draft decisions, but Ryan will have the final say on all decisions as the primary football executive. Since it’ll be considered a secondary football executive position, other teams can also block a lateral move, even if it’s for example: an assistant general manager moving up to a general manager role. And here’s how this screws the Bears.
According to the terms of the Rooney Rule: teams can only receive compensatory draft picks if a minority employee is hired by another team either as a “Head Coach or General Manager and Primary Football Executive” and in this case, Cunningham would be the second primary executive behind Ryan but still be the general manager. So, it’s toeing the line between the two.
Given Poles’ connection with Ryan, it’s unlikely the Bears block the move, so that shouldn’t be anything to worry about. But, the important thing, if Cunningham is hired as the Falcons’ general manager, it’s still undetermined whether the Bears would receiver two third-round compensatory draft selections or not.
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