Falcons add final piece to new leadership team by hiring Ian Cunningham as general manager

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons added the final piece to their new leadership team on Thursday night by hiring Ian Cunningham as general manager.

The decision came after president of football Matt Ryan led the team's second interviews with Cunningham and James Liipfert.

Cunningham previously interviewed for the president of football position before Ryan, the longtime Falcons quarterback, was hired. Ryan then led the search for new coach Kevin Stefanski, who will report to Ryan along with Cunningham.

“It was evident through our rigorous interview process Ian was the right choice for our general manager position,” Ryan said in a statement. “His vision for our team and organization aligned exactly with the type of leader we were seeking to help take the Falcons to the next level.”

Falcons owner Arthur Blank fired general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris after an 8-9 season. Fontenot served as GM from 2021-25.

Cunningham has served as the Chicago Bears’ assistant general manager for the past four years. He previously spent five seasons in various scouting and player personnel roles with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cunningham's family lived in Roswell near Atlanta before moving to Carrollton, Texas, where he attended high school.

“As a Falcons fan growing up in Roswell when the Dirty Birds were rolling, the Braves were on fire and the city was hosting the Summer Olympics, I lived the passion of Atlanta sports fans and I can’t wait to be part of bringing that fire and energy back to the city,” Cunningham said.

“It’s been incredible to build a relationship with Matt over the last several weeks and to have an immediate connection with Kevin. I can’t wait to work with both of these great football minds to put a team on the field everyone will be very excited about. We all share the same vision for what the Atlanta Falcons should and will be and it’s time to work.”

Ryan said Cunningham “has demonstrated the drive and focus it takes to build championship contenders and put them in the position to win games. We love his broad and deep experience across every aspect of talent evaluation and know he’s learned from some of the best in the league. Pairing him with coach Stefanski is exciting for us, and we can’t wait to see them bring our shared vision to life in everything we do starting right now.”

Cunningham's first NFL front-office role was in Baltimore, where he was a player personnel assistant for five seasons.

The Falcons also interviewed Andy Weidl, Josh Williams, Mike Bradway and Joe Douglas for the job. Williams was also considered for president of football.

AP Sports Writer Maura Carey in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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Atlanta Falcons' President of Football Matt Ryan, head coach Kevin Stefanski, owner Arthur Blank, from left, pose for a photo during a NFL Atlanta Falcons news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, left, speaks as Atlanta Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan looks on during a NFL news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, left, speaks as Atlanta Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan looks on during a NFL Atlanta Falcons news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

FILE - Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham poses for a photo April 28, 2022, in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo, File)

DETROIT (AP) — Patrick Kane smiled. The wait was over.

Kane became the highest-scoring United States-born player in NHL history, passing Mike Modano with an assist for his 1,375th point on an assist Thursday night for the Detroit Red Wings against the Washington Capitals.

“I could not be more proud for you,” Modano said on a pre-recorded message shown on the videoboards at Little Caesars Arena.

Kane passed the puck from the boards to Alex DeBrincat in the left circle, and DeBrincat set up Ben Chiarot for a tying goal from the point midway through the first period.

Kane flashed a grin and hugged Chiarot.

He was surrounded by teammates, including those who emptied the bench to join a brief celebration. As Kane skated away, the spotlight was put on him and he raised his stick to acknowledge the crowd while appearing to be on the verge of tears.

His likeness was shown on the videboards with an American flag in the background and the number 1,375.

Modano held the mark for 18-plus years. Kane reached the milestone a couple of months after turning 37, while Modano was 40 when he scored a goal to register point No. 1,374, passing Phil Housley.

Kane has been one of the faces of American hockey since getting taken with the first pick in the 2007 draft by Chicago. He helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup three times from 2010-15 as a co-headliner of one of the most successful runs since the league’s salary cap era began in ’05.

“When you think of USA Hockey, he’s one of the first players that comes to mind, if not the first player,” fellow American Jack Eichel said. “Such a great representation of USA Hockey and us Americans — something for a lot of the guys that came after him to strive to be, myself included.”

U.S.-born defenseman Charlie McAvoy recalled watching Kane on those long runs “do stuff that at the time people didn’t do.”

“His type of player just transcends now, when back then there wasn’t anybody that was really doing that,” U.S.-born defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “He changed the game of hockey. He’s an absolute legend. And it’s great that he’s an American.”

Earlier this month, Kane became the 50th player and fifth American to score 500 goals, following Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick and Joe Mullen. Brett Hull, a dual citizen who was born in Canada and played internationally for the U.S., had 741 goals and 1,391 points.

“He’s well on his way to being the best USA player of all time,” countryman Jack Hughes said.

Kane won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in ’07-08, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013 and the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP in 2015-16, when he also led the league in scoring.

“Such an iconic player, just played with such passion,” said Tage Thompson, who’s a first-time U.S. Olympian this year. “Very enthusiastic, loved scoring goals, loved making plays.”

Kane's slick hands more than made up for him being on the smaller side at 5-foot-10 and under 180 pounds.

“He’s maybe got the best highlight reel of all time,” Hughes said. “Just as a kid, you watch all of his videos and everything, and you’re like, that’s the guy you want to be just because of how skilled he is.”

Whyno reported from New York.

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Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) after scoring the game-winning goal against the Ottawa Senators in overtime of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)