The Chicago Bears have a void in their front office. Ian Cunningham was their assistant general manager from 2022 through 2025, serving a vital role alongside GM Ryan Poles. He has now taken a GM job of his own, assuming control of the Atlanta Falcons, his favorite childhood team. While great for Cunningham, it leaves the Bears with some difficult decisions to make regarding their front office. First, they must find somebody to fill the assistant GM role. Second, they have to bring in someone to fill the talent evaluation gap.
The initial belief was that the Bears had the first part already dealt with. Senior co-director of player personnel Jeff King was the presumed favorite to get a promotion to assistant GM, having a high standing in the building and the full confidence of Poles. However, people close to the situation informed SM that this is far from decided. There is an undercurrent of belief that the team might go in a different direction. It depends on what head coach Ben Johnson wants. He is the one holding up the process. It isn’t clear if he wants to bring in somebody from outside.
Replacing Ian Cunningham is a big decision.
Yes, he may not have been the primary decisionmaker in the front office, but his presence cannot be overstated. His sharp eye for talent and ability to maintain an air of calm and focus during peak times of player acquisition proved crucial to some of the Bears’ best offseason moves. Losing somebody like that has consequences. It makes sense that the team takes the decision about a replacement seriously. It could still end up being King. He is the unofficial favorite, but the general feeling is it’s nowhere close to set in stone.
Coach Johnson has said he likes to bring in outside voices to keep his process honest. He may see the same value in doing so in the front office. Bring in someone with a different opinion to spark more discussion during evaluations. That is often how the best teams operate. Ian Cunningham will be missed. Sadly, the Bears must move forward. This coming decision will alter how the front office operates, for better or worse.
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Some names to keep an eye on?
| Former Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier | Was a scout while Johnson was in Miami |
| Browns senior personnel advisor Jimmy Raye III | Served in Lions front office when Johnson arrived |
| Lions senior personnel advisor John Dorsey | Worked with Johnson in Detroit AND Poles in K.C. |
| Former Falcons GM Terry Fontenot | Worked with Johnson mentor Dan Campbell in N.O. |
| Senior advisor to Falcons head coach Bob Quinn | Was GM in Detroit when Johnson was hired |
There are other lesser-known options as well. This will come down to who the Bears brass feel can fulfill the role as well as Cunningham did, both in evaluations and keeping a cool head in tense situations.
