After being introduced as the new general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, Ian Cunningham paused to reflect before addressing the media. “I’m just taking this in for a second,” he said, his voice carrying emotion.
Cunningham’s journey toward an NFL front office role began after his time at the University of Virginia. Although he considered extending his playing career, he quickly shifted focus and sought opportunities that would help him become a general manager. His first step was with the Baltimore Ravens’ scouting department, thanks to a recommendation from Virginia head coach Al Groh.
“(Baltimore) taught me what scouting was,” Cunningham said, “from the ground up.”
Cunningham spent nine seasons with the Ravens, advancing from player personnel assistant to full-time scout after their 2012 Super Bowl win. During his tenure, Baltimore made six playoff appearances and won two AFC North titles.
He then joined the Philadelphia Eagles as director of college scouting and later became director of player personnel. There, Cunningham learned about roster construction and team building in collaboration with others. “Teaching me the nuances of the game through a different lens, roster construction and team building,” Cunningham explained.
During five years in Philadelphia, he helped guide the Eagles to four playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory.
Cunningham next became Chicago Bears’ first assistant general manager. Working alongside GM Ryan Poles, he contributed to Chicago’s divisional 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.”
Throughout his career, Cunningham has been part of teams that played deep into January and February—a quality valued by Atlanta as it seeks to return to postseason play for the first time since 2017. The Falcons have previously reached two Super Bowls: in 1998 and 2016 according to their official website.
“Smart, tough, physical. We are going to build through the trenches. If you look at all of those teams, that’s the philosophy,” Cunningham said regarding previous organizations he worked with. “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.”
Atlanta president of football Matt Ryan noted why they chose Cunningham: “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 credited several prominent NFL executives as mentors—Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta (Baltimore), Howie Roseman (Philadelphia), Kevin Warren and Ted Phillips (Chicago), as well as Poles—and outlined what he learned from each: discipline from Newsome; innovation from Roseman; attention to detail from Poles.
“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.”
He described his approach simply: Build through both draft picks and development rather than seeking short-term gains at long-term expense.
The Atlanta Falcons compete in the NFL’s NFC South division and were founded in 1965. The franchise is based in Atlanta, Georgia and features Freddie the Falcon as its mascot.
For now, Cunningham says his experiences will shape how he leads Atlanta forward.