The NFL has officially informed the Chicago Bears that they will not receive draft pick compensation following the departure of Ian Cunningham, who was hired as the General Manager of the Atlanta Falcons. The decision comes after the Bears lobbied the league for picks and subsequently filed an appeal, which has now been denied.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the league notified the Bears today that the matter is officially closed. The Bears had been seeking compensation under the NFL's minority hiring incentive program, which typically rewards teams with compensatory third-round picks when a minority executive or coach is hired away for a primary role elsewhere. However, the league determined that the criteria for such compensation were not met in this specific instance.
Cunningham served as the assistant general manager in Chicago under Ryan Poles before accepting the lead front-office position with the Falcons. His move to Atlanta was seen as a significant loss for the Bears front office, prompting the team's pursuit of draft assets. With the NFL's final ruling, the Bears will move forward without the additional draft capital they had hoped to secure through the appeal process.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting