NFL Denies Chicago Bears Appeal For Compensatory Picks After Ian Cunningham Hire
The NFL has denied the Chicago Bears’ appeal for compensatory draft picks after Ian Cunningham was hired by the Atlanta Falcons.
The Chicago Bears pushed hard for the NFL to award them the compensatory picks they believed they deserved after the Atlanta Falcons hired the Bears' former assistant GM Ian Cunnhinam as their general manager this offseason.
On Friday, they got their answer.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the NFL has officially denied the Bears’ request for compensatory draft picks.
NFL Shuts Down Bears’ Compensatory Pick Appeal
We've finally reached a conclusion to the Bears' war for compensatory picks.
Per Rapoport, the NFL informed Chicago that it will not receive any compensatory selections, closing the matter after the team filed an appeal.
The reasoning comes down to how the league defines qualifying roles under its diversity hiring incentive policy.
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“The matter is now closed following the club’s appeal," Rapoport shared on X. "The NFL informed the Bears today they will not receive compensatory picks. The policy is designed to provide picks for the Primary Football Executive position. The League determined Mr. Cunningham did not fill that role with the Falcons as it is defined in League rules.”
That distinction ultimately cost the Bears valuable draft capital.
Why the Bears Believed They Had a Case
Chicago’s argument for those valuable third-round picks was straightforward.
Cunningham served as assistant general manager under Ryan Poles and played a significant role in roster construction, scouting, and organizational strategy. When he was hired by Atlanta as general manager, the Bears believed that move should qualify under the NFL’s compensatory framework tied to minority executive advancement.
Teams have received third-round compensatory picks in similar cases when executives move into top decision-making roles.
The Chicago Bears expected this to follow that precedent.
Why the NFL Said No to the Bears
The NFL's ruling hinges on one key detail.
The NFL determined that Cunningham does not meet the definition of a Primary Football Executive in his new role with Atlanta.
That definition is critical.
Under current rules, compensatory picks are only awarded when a minority executive leaves for a role that clearly qualifies as the top football decision-maker in an organization.
The NFL concluded that Cunningham’s role with the Falcons does not meet that threshold as defined by league policy. Instead, that job belongs to Matt Ryan.
And that's where the appeal dies.
What This Means for the Chicago Bears
This is not just a technical loss. It has real NFL draft implications.
Compensatory picks, especially in the third round, carry significant value. They provide:
- Cost-controlled contributors
- Additional flexibility to move around the board
- More margin for error in roster building
Chicago will now move forward without that extra asset. Frustrating, indeed.
The Bigger Picture for the NFL
This decision may also have broader implications across the league.
The NFL’s ruling clarifies how narrowly it will define qualifying roles moving forward. That could affect how teams view front-office titles and structures when developing executives.
For the Chicago Bears, though, the focus shifts back to the 2026 NFL draft itself. No extra picks are coming.
Everything Poles must accomplish will have to come from the selections they already have.
The Bears' Bottom Line
Kudos to the Chicago Bears. They didn't give up without a fight. Unfortunately, the eague didn't budge.
Ian Cunningham’s departure will not bring draft compensation back to Chicago.
And now the pressure shifts fully to Poles to maximize every pick he has in the top 100.
