Report: Bears’ Ian Cunningham turned down Cardinals’ GM offer

Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham was reportedly offered the Arizona Cardinals’ GM job but turned it down, per FOX’s Jay Glazer.

The report comes days after Arizona introduced Monti Ossenfort as the team’s new general manager.

Cunningham reportedly interviewed for the Cardinals’ GM vacancy last Thursday. Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that the team had spoken with Cunningham, among six other candidates, before opting for Ossenfort.

“All of these candidates had excellent backgrounds, impressive resumes and had a vision for the organization, but as we went through the process, it became clear that Monti Ossenfort had the combination of a well-defined vision, work ethic, character, the background and experience,” Bidwill said during Ossenfort’s introductory press conference.

“And being with two great organizations, the New England Patriots as well as the Tennessee Titans, in evolving roles and playing key roles in those organizations, it became apparent that all of the combination of those things that Monti was going to be the best fit for us with his well-defined vision of turning this organization around on the field and assisting us in identifying our new head coach, which we will embark on in a matter of days.”

Cunningham also interviewed for the Titans’ GM opening but was ultimately passed over for San Francisco 49ers director of player personnel Ran Carthon.

Cunningham is coming off his first season with the Bears under GM Ryan Poles.

He first broke into the NFL ranks in 2008 as a player personnel assistant for the Baltimore Ravens until 2012.

From there, Cunningham moved to an area scout from 2013-16 before joining on with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he advanced up the ladder to director of college scouting (2017-18), assistant director of player personnel (2019-20) and then director of player personnel (2021).

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