(104.3 The Score) The Bears weren't awarded a pair of compensatory third-round draft picks as part of the Rooney Rule for assistant general manager Ian Cunningham's departure from Chicago to become the Atlanta Falcons' new general manager.
On Monday, the NFL announced its 33 compensatory draft picks for the upcoming NFL Draft, but the Bears didn't receive any. The league hasn't commented on its decision, and a spokesperson didn't immediately respond for comment on the decision.
As part of the Rooney Rule, teams receive two compensatory third-round picks when a minority executive or coach leaves to become a general manager or head coach elsewhere. Cunningham received a higher title in becoming the general manager in Atlanta, but the league didn't view it him as the top decision-maker because the Falcons hired Matt Ryan as their president of football. The NFL held that view despite Ryan publicly stating that Cunningham will have the final say in roster and personnel decisions.
At the NFL Combine, Bears general manager Ryan Poles indicated that the team intended to appeal for compensatory draft picks.
“I’m really proud that Ian this opportunity to be a general manager,” Poles said in February. “It’s something we’ve talked about for a long time, before we were even employed by the Bears. It was our vision to climb through the ranks, to get a seat, the GM seat and then help the other one get to their position as well. So, I’m really happy for him. How we do that and why we do that has nothing to do with compensation whatsoever. I want to make that very clear. But there’s a set of rules that has been put in place that I think can be applied to this situation.
“I’ll be honest, I think it is a little strange. At the end of the day, you should want to develop your staff regardless of the color of their skin. I think that is important. I think we take a lot of pride with the Bears in our setup, and I take a lot of pride in that. So, to not be compensated for that is a little strange. I saw the Chiefs get a pick because of me and then I watched that player go and play. It’s just a little odd. But if at the end of the day, they think that’s what is best to help incentivize, then that’s what they want to do.
“That’s not the purpose of why we develop our staff. But if that is the rule they have in place, I think it’s very clear in the situation what should happen. We’ll see what they think.”
For his part, Cunningham also made a plea for the Bears to be awarded these compensatory picks, which are awarded as bonus slots in the draft rather than being taken from any team.
“It was always my interpretation that if a general manager gets hired, that team would receive two third-round picks,” Cunningham. “I’m the general manager, I was hired, I would think they would get two third-round picks.”
The Bears would've been awarded selections at the end of the third round this year and next year had their hope come to fruition.
The Bears hold the No. 25 overall selection in the first round, two picks in the second round, one pick in the third round, two picks in the fourth round and two picks in the seventh round.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in late April in Pittsburgh.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for TheScoreChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.