Ian Cunningham
GM since Jan 2026(6 months)
GM rankings — every move graded by contract value, sentiment, and fan votes.
F
F
B
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Grade Ian Cunningham
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Fans say
B
B
Our grading
F
F
Fans grade it 8 tiers higher(Contract Value Index)
The Verdict on Ian, in One Read
On the Contract Value Index, Ian Cunningham's front office has been significantly overpaying relative to production (F Contract Value Index). That ranks 22nd of 32 on Sentiment among graded GMs. Reaction to the front office’s moves has been sharply negative (F Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal. The crowd has weighed in too: 1 fan vote land on a B Fan Verdict.
About Ian Cunningham
Background and career path of the Atlanta Falcons general manager.
Path to the role
Cunningham played guard at the University of Virginia and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent after the 2008 draft, but he did not stick on the roster and quickly pivoted into the front office. He started as a personnel assistant with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 and worked his way up to area scout, then moved to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he rose to director of player personnel. He spent 2022 through 2025 as assistant general manager under Ryan Poles with the Chicago Bears before the Atlanta Falcons named him general manager in January 2026.
Philosophy & notable moves
Cunningham arrives in Atlanta with championship pedigree on his résumé — he was on staff for Baltimore's Super Bowl XLVII win and Philadelphia's Super Bowl LII title — and a reputation built across three of the league's most respected personnel pipelines. His path from undrafted offensive lineman to a top scouting job reflects an evaluator who learned the trade from the ground up.
Fun facts
- He is a second cousin of tennis legend Arthur Ashe.
- He holds both a bachelor's in psychology and a master's in education from the University of Virginia.
- He earned a Super Bowl ring with Baltimore (XLVII) and another with Philadelphia (LII) as a front-office staffer before becoming a GM.
63
Transactions
63
Graded
0
Fan Votes
6 months
Tenure
League Comparison
#22
Sentiment Rank
of 32 GMs
#14
Most Active
63 moves
Contract Value
F
Poor contract value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
The Atlanta Falcons have been paying a premium this season, with several contracts that outpace the expected production level. Across 48 contracts, 7 grade out as good value and 7 look like overpays based on comparable deals around the league. The best bang-for-the-buck deal was Nick Polk (A) at $4.5M/yr — getting kicker production well above the price point. The priciest commitment relative to production was Layden Robinson (D+) at $1.0M/yr — the offensive line market may have been richer than the on-field return suggests. Cap flexibility could become a concern if these contracts don't produce at the expected level.
Public Sentiment
F
Poor reception
NegativeMixedPositive
Atlanta Falcons' 2026 moves under Ian Cunningham have drawn significant criticism from fans and media alike. Of 63 graded moves, 22 landed well with the fanbase, 21 drew mixed reactions, and 20 were viewed negatively. The standout move was bringing in Kyle Pitts (A+), which generated the most positive buzz. The most questioned decision was the Trenton Gill cut (F), which drew the sharpest criticism. The fanbase remains split — some moves look promising while others need time to prove their worth.
Draft History (During Tenure)
2026 Draft
All 2026 Transactions
A
A
SigningJul 30, 2026
Atlanta Falcons sign LB Josh Woods
D
D
ReleaseJul 30, 2026
Atlanta Falcons release DT Ross Blacklock
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About this general manager
Ian Cunningham is the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons, in his 1st year as the lead executive. FanVerdicts covers every NFL GM and the full body of moves they've made — and asks fans to render the verdict. Cast your Fan Verdict on Ian Cunningham, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — the contract value of the deals they signed, the performance of the players they assembled, and the sentiment around recent moves — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index F, Performance D-, Sentiment F, Fan Verdict B.
Each GM grade is rolled up from the underlying transactions attributed to that GM's tenure. When a GM signs a player, that signing's Contract Value Index grade flows into the GM's portfolio score; the same player's subsequent performance and sentiment grades flow into the GM's respective summaries. Phased attribution applies for new GMs: the first three years weight the prior GM's legacy deals at 100%/66%/33%, ramping the new GM's ownership of roster outcomes.
For broader context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, and the transactions feed. The NFL GM rankings page ranks every front office side-by-side on the same four dimensions.
