After being introduced as the new general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, Ian Cunningham reflected on his career journey and the experiences that have shaped his approach to team building.
“I’m just taking this in for a second,” Cunningham said at his introductory press conference.
Cunningham began considering a future in football management while at the University of Virginia. Although he initially hoped to extend his playing career, he soon decided to pursue work off the field. His first opportunity came with the Baltimore Ravens, who hired him as a player personnel assistant after a recommendation from his college coach, Al Groh.
“(Baltimore) taught me what scouting was,” Cunningham said, “from the ground up.”
He spent nine seasons with the Ravens, advancing from assistant to full-time scout after their 2012 Super Bowl win. During his time there, Baltimore made six playoff appearances and won two AFC North titles. He then joined the Philadelphia Eagles as director of college scouting and later director of player personnel, where he learned about roster construction and staff management.
“Teaching me the nuances of the game through a different lens, roster construction and team building,” Cunningham explained.
While with Philadelphia, Cunningham saw four playoff runs, two NFC East titles, and another Super Bowl victory. He then became the Chicago Bears’ first assistant general manager. Working alongside general manager Ryan Poles, he helped guide Chicago to an NFC North title in 2025.
“We went through the fire together,” Cunningham said of Poles. “We started off a little rocky and we were able to come out the other end this past season with the NFC North title.”
Cunningham’s experience includes working under respected executives such as Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta in Baltimore; Howie Roseman in Philadelphia; and Kevin Warren, Ted Phillips, and Ryan Poles in Chicago. He credits each mentor for teaching him aspects of discipline, innovation, creativity, attention to detail, and humility.
“Fortunately for me, I have been around some of the greats to ever do it,” Cunningham said. “If I can be half as good as them, that’s what I am striving for. I’m trying to be as good as them.”
Falcons president of football Matt Ryan cited Cunningham’s wide-ranging experience across all parts of scouting as key to his hiring: “We were looking for somebody who was well-versed in terms of their experience, and has touched all of the different parts of scouting,” Ryan said. “That’s was something that was important for us because there’s a lot that falls under Ian’s control, so you want somebody who is comfortable, who understands each individual’s role in his department.”
Cunningham outlined his philosophy for Atlanta: “Smart, tough, physical. We are going to build through the trenches. If you look at all of those teams, that’s the philosophy,” he said. “Draft, develop and retain, that’s going to be our philosophy here too. You can’t have enough draft picks. We did that in Baltimore. You want to retain your own. So that’s what we are going to do.”
The Atlanta Falcons are based in Atlanta, Georgia and play in the National Football League’s NFC South Division according to their official website. The franchise began as an expansion team in 1965 and has appeared twice in the Super Bowl—in 1998 and 2016 according to their official website. Freddie the Falcon serves as their mascot according to their official website.
As Cunningham takes over leadership duties with Atlanta—an organization seeking its first playoff appearance since 2017—he brings principles tested throughout his career: focusing on drafting talent rather than trading away future assets and emphasizing development within.
Because Cunningham’s past continues to shape his future — now as Atlanta’s general manager.
