Falcons hire Ian Cunningham
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"Despite losing Ian Cunningham to the Falcons as GM, the Bears won't receive compensation, because Matt Ryan is considered Atlanta's 'primary football executive' under league rules," Pelissero reports. The Bears, if circumstances were normal, would've landed two third-round compensatory picks for seeing Cunningham get hired by the Falcons.
Cunningham will report directly to Matt Ryan, the team's president of football.
The Bears lose a key executive to Atlanta, but a loophole means they won't get crucial draft compensation, leaving fans frustrated.
The Falcons are naming Cunningham as their next general manager, multiple sources tell CBS Sports. Cunningham arrives in Atlanta after four years as the assistant GM in Chicago, and he combines with new president of football Matt Ryan and head coach Kevin Stefanski to make up the new football braintrust for the team.