The whispers connecting Ian Cunningham and the Jacksonville Jaguars are only going to get louder from here.
FOX reporter Jordan Schultz shares the news that the Chicago Bears assistant general manager is being requested for an interview by the Jacksonville Jaguars:
Sources: The #Jaguars have requested permission to interview #Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham for their vacant GM job.
A top GM candidate for the last few years, Cunningham is highly respected around the NFL and has previously been a finalist at multiple spots. pic.twitter.com/PiQv69XyFA— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 3, 2025
The Jaguars want to discuss their vacant general manager position with Ian Cunningham. This news comes just weeks after Jacksonville had a mutual parting of ways with Trent Baalke, who was nudged out the door after top coaching candidates gave the Jags the “thanks, but no thanks” treatment. Rumors regarding Jacksonville’s interest in Cunningham had been circling for a few weeks. But now, we can consider the team’s interest in one of Chicago’s top front office executives to be official.
Will Ian Cunningham leave the Bears for the Jaguars?
Ian Cunningham is a respected member of the Chicago Bears front office. The right-hand man to General Manager Ryan Poles, Cunningham has been in Chicago since 2022. And even though the team hasn’t seen much prosperity in terms of wins, Cunningham has remained a popular general manager candidate in interview circles. Despite interviews with the Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans (twice), and Los Angeles Chargers, Cunningham has yet to land a GM job. That might change soon with the Jaguars’ reported interest.
Bears fans have been hearing about Ian Cunningham as a rising star in front offices since his arrival in 2022. Perhaps his time to shine will come soon with the Jaguars. If it does, then Chicago’s football team will be the recipient of a pair of compensatory third-round draft picks โ one in 2025 and another in 2026. Sure, it would come while the team loses a top front-office executive. But still … I am not going to say “no” to this Bears bunch adding draft picks.
Plus, I like seeing guys climb the ladder and get promotions. It tends to be a good sign when other teams want to hire away your talent. And it is often damning when other teams steer clear of your guys. I’m not saying that Ian Cunningham’s potential departure would be a good thing. But there is a gift and curse aspect of this thing.