Chicago Bears draft controversy with NFL isn’t over

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Feb 24, 2026 12:35 PM ET

Former Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham has a big spring ahead of him.

Cunningham took the general manager job for the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. April will be his first draft as a general manager, and his first selection is set to be the No. 48 pick.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles helped the Falcons during their front office hiring process in the offseason. His former teammate at Boston College, Matt Ryan, became the president of football, the top executive position for Atlanta.

Because Cunningham is not the top executive for the Falcons, the Bears will not receive two third-round compensatory picks via the Rooney Rule.

Per Zack Pearson, Cunningham argued the Bears should receive those picks.

“Former Bears GM Ian Cunningham says he doesn’t know the official wording of the rule,” Pearson posted on X. “But his interpretation is that the Bears should get the two draft picks for him being hired. He said he wouldn’t be where he is now if not Chicago. Interesting.”

Former #Bears GM Ian Cunningham says he doesn’t know the official wording of the rule. But his interpretation is that the Bears should get the two draft picks for him being hired.

He said he wouldn’t be where he is now if not Chicago.

Interesting.

— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) February 24, 2026

Per Chris Emma of 670 The Score, Poles said the Bears appealed the decision to the league.

“If that’s the rule they have in place, it’s very clear what should happen,” Poles said.

Why the NFL didn’t give the Chicago Bears the draft picks

Mar 16, 2023; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles speaks during a press conference at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Former NFL sports agent Ben Dogra recently told ChiCitySports why the league didn’t give the Bears the two picks.

“He’s really not acting in a GM capacity,” Dogra said of Cunningham’s new role in Atlanta. “That belongs to Matt Ryan, because he has final say in football matters. So if that’s the case, the league probably frowns upon the fact ‘We don’t want to guy have a GM title, but he doesn’t have the authority of a GM over the 53-man roster.’”

“So if that’s the case, the league doesn’t want to provide compensatory picks for something that they deem to be less than a GM with the full power.”

The Bears can ask the league to look again. But don’t expect a different answer.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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