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The Atlanta Falcons added to their revamped front office, hiring Ian Cunningham as their new general manager on Thursday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Cunningham, 40, previously interviewed for the Falcons’ president of football position. With his experience in college scouting and player personnel, his responsibilities alongside Matt Ryan, who was hired in that president role, and new head coach Kevin Stefanski, seem apparent.
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That background in player personnel likely gave Cunningham the edge over Houston Texans assistant GM James Liipfert, with whom the Falcons also conducted a second interview.
For the past three years, Cunningham has been the Chicago Bears’ assistant general manager under Ryan Poles. His front office NFL career began in 2008 with the Baltimore Ravens, working as a personnel assistant before advancing to area scout during his eight years.
Cunningham moved to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, spending two years as director of college scouting before becoming assistant director of player personnel. Cunningham was eventually promoted to director of player personnel, a role he held for a year before leaving for Chicago.
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Prior to his front-office work, Cunningham spent one season with the Kansas City Chiefs as a practice squad player. An offensive lineman, he played college football at Virginia, making 31 career starts for the Cavaliers.
Cunningham replaces Terry Fontenot, who was fired along with head coach Raheem Morris after Atlanta’s Week 18 regular-season finale.
