Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham among Jaguars GM finalists
Virtual interviews for the position of general manager in Jacksonville concluded on Friday, and according to NFL Network, Ian Cunningham is one of the contenders who will be interviewed in person next week.
We retained Ian Cunningham.
The future of the Bears assistant general manager’s job hunt with the Jacksonville Jaguars is uncertain, but he will find out shortly.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network states that Cunningham, who was right-hand man to Ryan Poles, is one of the finalists, and that Cunningham finished his virtual interview on Friday.
Pelissero also mentioned that Ethan Waugh, the current interim general manager, and Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Packers’ VP of player personnel, are expected to be candidates. Next week, we will have our in-person interviews.
It was reported that Champ Kelly, a former Bears personnel executive and scout, was one of the individuals that were interviewed online.
Among the others were Chad Alexander, an assistant general manager for the Chargers, Jon Robinson, a former general manager for the Titans, Brandon Brown, an assistant general manager for the Giants, Terrance Gray, a director of player personnel for the Buffalo Bills, James Gladstone, a director of scouting strategy for the Rams, Trey Brown, a senior personnel executive for the Bengals, and Josh Williams, a director of scouting and football operations for the 49ers.
For more than three years, Cunningham has been an integral part of the Bears’ coaching staff.
He has also interviewed for positions with the Chargers, Cardinals, Panthers, and Titans, most recently this year.
Under the Rooney Rule, the Bears will earn two third-round selections in consecutive drafts if he is hired.
The clause in the regulation provides third-round choices for teams that lose minority coordinators and personnel executives to promotions.
Cunningham would be working with incoming coach Liam Coen, who had been a candidate last year for the Bears offensive coordinator post that was handed to Shane Waldron.
The Bears fired Waldron after just nine games last season.
Ironically, if Cunningham took the position he would be working with a staff that currently includes Waldron as Jaguars passing game coordinator.
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