The Chicago Bears have now seen two key contributors from their resurgent 2025 season exit for greater opportunities. First, head coach Ben Johnson lost running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, Bears general manager Ryan Poles also took a hit to his staff.
The good news is that there remains more than one month before free agency. There are two months until the 2026 NFL Draft.
However, the latest departure–assistant GM Ian Cunningham–is longer-tenured than Bieniemy.
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Cunningham has been on the interview circuit for the past few offseasons. This offseason was no different for the now-former Bears executive.
He drew interest from the Atlanta Falcons. Only this time, rather than end the cycle sticking with the Bears, Cunningham departs Chicago for Atlanta. He will be the GM under former NFL QB Matt Ryan. Ryan was Poles’ teammate at Boston College.
“Roswell, GA’s finest [fire emoji],” the Falcons posted on X on January 29.
Cunningham arrived in 2022, the same season as Poles. He has operated as a sounding board during critical decisions, among other critical aspects in the front office.
“My experience in Chicago has been important to me in so many ways,” Cunningham said in a statement via the Falcons’ official website, thanking Poles, ownership, and team president Kevni Warren. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity they gave me and everything I’ve learned from them over my years with the Bears. It has been a first-class experience, and I will never forget what they, our staff, coaches, players and the great fans of Chicago have done for me.”
Ryan, who has final say over football operations, was effusive in his praise for Cunningham.
“It was evident through our rigorous interview process Ian was the right choice for our general manager position,” Ryan said in his statement in the official release. “His vision for our team and organization aligned exactly with the type of leader we were seeking to help take the Falcons to the next level.
“Ian has demonstrated the drive and focus it takes to build championship contenders and put them in the position to win games. We love his broad and deep experience across every aspect of talent evaluation and know he’s learned from some of the best in the league.”
Cunningham will work with former Cleveland Browns head coach and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, whom the Falcons hired to the same role this offseason.
Eric Bieniemy Gets Honest About Bears Exit
Bieniemy spoke with the media for the first time since his departure from the Bears. It sounds like there were not many other places he would have left for.
“I just want to thank the Chicago Bears organization. And it was a great run, a great season,” Bieniemy told reporters on January 28, also thanking ownership, Johnson, Poles, Warren, and special advisor to the CEO Ted Crews. “You talking about great people. uh a great organization.
“It felt like home, and that was the beauty of it. It was real, real tough making this decision, but it was an opportunity to come home. And it was like leaving home. But now, if Big Red [Andy Reid] ever picks up the phone, that’s the only person that you’ll say, ‘Hey, you know what? It may be time to return home.’ Because he’s given me this opportunity. But more than anything, it was very, very tough after exactly what we just went through.”
Bieniemy said he is “fired up” about the opportunity.