The Chicago Bears front office has only been in place for a year. They’ve barely begun implementing their true vision for the organization, yet GM Ryan Poles already came dangerously close to losing his chief lieutenant. Assistant GM Ian Cunningham was a hot name on the GM circuit this month, emerging as a finalist for both the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans jobs. Monti Ossenfort ended up getting the Cardinals job, so Cunningham became the focus for the Titans’ spot. He went so far as to receive a second interview.
In the end, Tennessee opted to go with San Francisco 49ers player personnel executive Ran Carthon. That wasn’t a huge surprise, given the organization’s recent success in building its roster. Cunningham won’t get his own team this year. However, most experts agree it’s only a matter of time. Even Poles himself stated he brought his friend in, knowing full well he wouldn’t be around long. Yet there is one added benefit to Cunningham sticking around besides his obvious ability as a talent evaluator.
Bears can now be assured compensation for Ian Cunningham.
One of the benefits for San Francisco seeing Carthon get hired is receiving two compensatory 3rd round picks. That is part of the new NFL incentive rules. Teams that elevate and help minority executive becomes GMs receive picks. There is one small wrinkle. The executive must have worked with the organization for at least two years. If Cunningham had been hired during this cycle, the Bears would’ve gotten nothing in return. Now he’ll be around for 2023, which is his second year with the team. That means Chicago gets those compensatory picks if he gets hired as a GM next off-season.
Poles has stated he already has a succession plan in mind for when the time comes. Until then, he plans to milk Ian Cunningham for everything he’s worth. This is easily the most important off-season of the past decade for the Bears. They have $100 million in salary cap space. They have the #1 overall pick. It is a golden opportunity for them to change the future of the franchise. Success would virtually guarantee Cunningham would be running his own by 2024 at the latest. He could turn himself into quite the folk hero.
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