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Falcons GM Ian Cunningham Sends Message on Homecoming After Fulfilling Career Goal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Debayan Biswas | Last updated Feb 20, 2026 2:43 PM ET

Ian Cunningham once watched the Atlanta Falcons as a kid in Roswell, Georgia, trying and failing to master the “Dirty Bird” dance in his family’s kitchen. Years later, after stops in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago, he stood at a podium as the franchise’s new general manager, calling the moment “pretty special.”

“This is pretty special to come back home to a franchise or organization that I grew up watching right up the road in Roswell,” Cunningham said at his introductory news conference. “As a Falcons fan growing up in Roswell when the Dirty Birds were rolling, the Braves were on fire and the city was hosting the Summer Olympics, I lived the passion of Atlanta sports fans.”

Cunningham, 40, now fulfills a goal he set as a young offensive lineman at Virginia to one day become an NFL general manager. He arrives in Atlanta after four seasons as assistant general manager of the Chicago Bears, where the team captured the NFC North title in 2025. Before that, he spent five years with the Philadelphia Eagles, rising to director of player personnel and contributing to a front office that reached the playoffs four times and won a Super Bowl. He began his NFL executive career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 and was part of their Super Bowl-winning organization in 2012.

New Falcons president of football Matt Ryan said Cunningham’s broad experience across scouting and personnel made him the right choice. “His vision for our team and organization aligned exactly with the type of leader we were seeking,” Ryan said. “He’s learned from some of the best in the league.”

Cunningham made clear his approach will center on the draft. “I love picks, man,” he said. “Draft, develop, retain. You use those as currency. It allows you more swings at the plate.” The Falcons currently hold five picks in April’s draft, though Cunningham noted that number can change. In Chicago, he helped turn five selections into 10 during his first year there.

He also emphasized building from the line of scrimmage. “Smart, tough, physical … we’re going to build through the trenches,” Cunningham said. The Falcons’ defensive front produced a franchise-record 57 sacks in 2025 but ranked 23rd in defensive rush EPA, highlighting an area for improvement. Offensively, Atlanta underperformed without right tackle Kaleb McGary, who missed the season with a knee injury.

Cunningham inherits a roster he believes has promise. “The cupboard isn’t bare,” he said, adding that he plans to “enhance it” so new coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff can “consistently compete for championships.”

For a former Falcons fan with family ties to Atlanta’s Olympic history, the assignment is both personal and professional. Now, Cunningham’s focus turns from childhood memories to roster construction and whether his vision can return sustained contention to the city he once called home.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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