The Atlanta Falcons have a new general manager: Ian Cunningham will be in charge of the team’s fortunes in Atlanta in the future.

The Atlanta Falcons have found their new general manager. The team has confirmed that Ian Cunningham from the Chicago Bears will take over the position.

The 40-year-old had a job interview in Atlanta on Thursday and beat out the other finalist, James Liipfert from the Houston Texans.

Cunningham has been assistant GM with the Bears since 2022 and has been instrumental in major trades, including the transfer of linebacker Roquan Smith to the Baltimore Ravens and defensive end Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles.

New GM for the Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan let Stefanski have a say

He previously worked for the Eagles, where he rose from Director of College Scouting (2017) to Director of Player Personnel (2021). His NFL career began in 2008 with the Ravens as a personnel assistant.

The Falcons fired GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris earlier this month. Fontenot failed to achieve a winning season in five years, while Morris led the team to 8-9 records in each of his two years. Since 2017, there have been no playoffs and no winning records.

The Falcons brought in former quarterback Matt Ryan as their new president of football operations, who led the search for a new coach and signed Kevin Stefanski on January 17. According to ESPN, Ryan gave Stefanski a say in the GM decision.