The Bears have been laying the foundation of something special in Chicago and the moves the organization has made this offseason have proved this franchise is aiming to get back into relevancy sooner than later.
On Wednesday, one day before the Bears select their next franchise quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bears made a major decision for the future of the team's front office.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bears have signed assistant general manager Ian Cunningham to a contact extension to allow him to remain in Chicago.
On Tuesday, Cunningham joined general manager Ryan Poles as the two side-by-side addressed the media ahead of this week's draft.
"I just want to say there's an energy in this building," Cunningham said alongside Poles. "It's good to see some familiar faces, get caught up with them, get to see some new faces get to know them a little bit more. But that energy also is because of the draft this week."
Having Cunningham in the front office has been a major boost for Poles and the rest of the Bears' staff spearheading what has become a franchise altering offseason.
"I am blessed out of my socks to have him by my side through this process," Poles said. "Just especially when you reflect back to the first two years, getting this thing off the ground. To have a guy like him that keeps me alive when I start getting off track and keep our staff together when you’re pulled in different directions. We wouldn't be where we are today if it wasn't for Ian being there and being an unbelievable partner."
Cunningham joined forces in Chicago with Poles in 2022 after serving as the Philadelphia Eagles' director of player personnel from 2017 to 2021.
While the extension keeps Cunningham in Chicago for the time being, it's not a concrete plan to keep him in house long term. As Schefter explained, Cunningham is expected to once again be one of the top general manager candidates during next year's hiring cycle, like he's been each of the last two years.
Cunningham interviewed for the Washington Commanders' and Los Angeles Chargers' vacant general manager positions earlier this offseason. He also missed out on landing a general manager position during the 2023 hiring cycle after interviewing for the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans' vacant positions.
"I'm proud of him, but at the same time, those are big shoes to fill in terms of helping run the front office and getting things done in terms of evaluating players," Poles explained back in January. "That's why development is so important to me, in terms of our scouting assistants up to our area scouts, making sure they're developed so everyone can just keep taking that step."
As the Bears get set to kick off the 2024 NFL Draft tomorrow, Cunningham's guidance and expertise will be increasingly valuable to the entire front office.
"Personally, I'm just extremely grateful for the opportunity," Cunningham said. "Not many people in any walk of life get to work with arguably one of their best friends. We all knew that this was his goal. I have a similar goal. But it means everything for me just to be able to work with him every single day. I know my opportunity will come. It's been a fun ride and I'm looking forward to this weekend."
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