The Chicago Bears wanted more draft picks after Ian Cunningham was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. But the NFL has now rejected the request.

No more draft picks for the Chicago Bears: The NFL has finally rejected the franchise’s appeal in the case of Ian Cunningham.

Cunningham was assistant general manager of the Bears from 2022 to 2025 and was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their new general manager at the end of January. Which is why Chicago wanted to receive additional compensation in the form of draft picks.

The NFL rules state: “A team receives two third-round picks if a person of color is drafted by another organization as its lead football executive.” This rule is intended to make the league more diverse.

However, the NFL has now ruled against the Bears in the Cunningham case. The reason: although the 40-year-old is officially listed by the Falcons as “General Manager”, he is below former quarterback Matt Ryan in the franchise’s organizational chart, who was newly hired as “President of Football”.

Cunningham reports to Matt Ryan at the Falcons

This means that in the eyes of the league, it is not Cunningham who is the Falcons’ leading football manager, but Ryan. Which is why the Bears are not entitled to the two third-round picks.

“The matter is now closed following the club’s appeal. The NFL informed the Bears today that they will not receive any compensatory picks,” the league announced. It was concluded that Cunningham did not perform the required role with the Falcons “in the manner set forth in league rules”.

Cunningham had joined the Bears in 2022 at almost the same time as new general manager Ryan Poles and was his assistant from then on. After his departure to Atlanta, Jeff King was promoted internally by the Bears to become Poles’ new right-hand man.

Written by Michael