Last week, reports surfaced that Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was working with Matt Ryan to help the Atlanta Falcons during their hiring process.
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Poles and Ryan were teammates at Boston College. On Jan. 10, Ryan was named the president of football with the Falcons, a newly created position that will serve as the primary football executive for the team.
Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham was a candidate for both the president of football gig and general manager position with Atlanta.
Because taking the general manager job with Atlanta would be a lateral move, Chicago would not receive two compensatory draft picks if Cunningham became the Falcons general manager.
A source told ChiCitySports last week that Bears head coach Ben Johnson wouldn’t be unhappy if Cunningham took the job with the Falcons.
CCS has more to add to that story this weekend.
It appears Johnson has his eyes on a possible replacement for Cunningham.
Per a source with knowledge of the Falcons search, don’t be surprised if Bears senior director of player personnel Jeff King gets a look for the assistant general manager job if Cunningham takes the job in Atlanta.
King is a guy that’s highly respected inside Halas Hall, and could be a “prime” candidate to become the assistant general manager if Cunningham leaves.
Chicago Bears think highly of Jeff King
King, a former tight end with the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals, started his scouting career with the Bears in 2015 as an intern. He’s taken roles with Chicago as pro scout, assistant director of pro scouting, director of pro scouting, and co-director of player personnel.
Last week, Cunningham appeared to be the favorite to become the general manager of the Falcons. However, rumors are swirling that Josh Williams, San Francisco 49ers’ director of scouting and football, is now the frontrunner for the general manager job in Atlanta.
Multiple people I’ve spoken with believe Matt Ryan will hire Klint Kubiak as the next Falcons Head Coach. Ties to the Shanahan tree and the perfect offense for Penix. 49ers Josh Williams is seen as the favorite for GM.
Waiting for Seahawks season to conclude out of respect.
— Chad Forbes (@NFLDraftBites) January 15, 2026
The Falcons announced Williams interviewed for the president of football position on Jan. 9.
So, what happens if the Bears want to promote King to assistant general manager and Cunningham does not leave?
Chicago will have a decision to make on whether to keep Cunningham or potentially move on from an assistant general manager that has been connected to multiple general manager openings in recent seasons.
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