The Atlanta Falcons are inching closer to hiring a General Manager. The team has named two finalists for the position.
Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham will meet with the Atlanta Falcons for a second interview this week. The other finalist will be Texans assistant GM James Liipfert.
One of these two men will be replacing Terry Fontenot, who was fired after the 2025 NFL season.
Ian Cunningham Is the Favorite to Land the Position
The Atlanta Falcons previously interview Cunningham for the president of football position that went to Matt Ryan. Multiple reports say this makes him a front-runner for the GM position.
“The presumed front-runner and a member of The Athletic’s NFL 50 under 40 list last year,” The Athletic’s Josh Kendall wrote in an article. “Cunningham worked for the Baltimore Ravens and Eagles before joining the Bears, where he was part of the personnel group that drafted quarterback Caleb Williams and hired head coach Ben Johnson. He was a finalist for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager position last season.”
“Cunningham, formerly with the Ravens and Eagles, has worked under Poles in Chicago since 2022,” Connor Byrne wrote in a Pro Football Rumors article. “He has interviewed elsewhere for several promotions since then, including the Commanders’ president of football operations gig in January 2024. Cunningham was a finalist for that opening, but the Commanders hired Adam Peters instead. Two years later, Cunningham may be head to Atlanta in a prominent position.”
According to Byrne’s article, Cunningham has a connection to Ryan in Bears GM Ryan Poles, who was one of Ryan’s teammates at Boston College.
Before Cunningham’s front office career took off, he was working in the scouting and player personnel departments with the Ravens.
On the other side, James Liipfert could possibly be the next best option if Cunningham does not get the position.
“Liipfert spent nine years in a scouting capacity with the Patriots before the Texans hired him as their director of college scouting in 2019,” Byrne wrote. “He has since climbed up the front office ranks in Houston, which promoted him to assistant director of personnel and then executive director of player personnel before moving him to assistant GM last June.”
Who Else Did the Falcons Interview?
It is unknown if the Atlanta Falcons will conduct other second interviews for the position. Here is some other candidates Atlanta has interviewed:
- Mike Bradway: Interviewed January 23rd.
- Joe Douglas: Interviewed January 23rd.
- Andy Weidl: Interviewed January 22nd.
- Josh Williams: Interviewed January 23rd.
Josh Williams is serving as the San Francisco 49ers scouting/football director. Andy Weidl is serving as the Pittsburgh Steelers assistant GM.
Weidl has been with the Steelers since May of 2022. The Falcons had been linked to Weidl for the first time during this interview process.
Joe Douglas is currently serving as senior personnel director for the Philadelphia Eagles. He previously served as the New York Jets GM from 2019-2024. The Jets were 32-68 during his tenure.
Mike Bradway is currently serving as the assistant GM for the Kansas City Chiefs. He previously served as the assistant director of college scouting for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Falcons Narrow GM Search Down to 2 Finalists