Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Did Falcons' Matt Ryan make the case for the Bears to get draft compensation?
06 Feb 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the case for the Bears to receive draft compensation?
Rahimi Harrison-Grody. Midday's Tindall 2. On Chicago Sports Radio, 104.3 The Score.
This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody on 104.3 The Score, and we are fighting for the right to draft picks. Because what the heck is going on here? I've gotten messages about this, appropriately. I've gotten questions about this online. And even Mike Florio just said, I've had 50 Bears fans ask me, based on...
Ian Cunningham leaving based on the fact that if he got a promotion, the Bears were due compensatory draft picks two in the third round. And now that's not going to happen. It's one each draft. So like you get one this year, you get one the next year. The point is there should be compensation.
The NFL should be defending the own rules that they created and that they adopted and set up to promote the hiring of minority candidates into front office jobs, which is what happened here. Ian Cunningham left.
Chapter 2: Why is Ian Cunningham's departure significant for the Bears?
That's your first indication that this was a promotion. The second one was how he's been talked about and the fact that it didn't happen and they're almost using like a loophole or a technicality to get around this. Everybody has every reason to question this and I'm glad we are.
Yeah, because Matt Ryan was referred to as the primary football executive in Atlanta. But now it would appear, which means that the Bears would not get the two third-round picks. Give us our draft picks. Give us our draft picks.
Because it was seen to the NFL loophole, and that's what this is, as a lateral move.
Exactly. But now Matt Ryan himself... is telling on himself in regards to this, saying that Ian Cunningham is in charge of the roster, of free agency, of the draft decisions.
So let's listen to Matt Ryan himself explain Ian Cunningham's role. When you...
are going through the draft process and the free agency. Are you going to be actively involved in that, or are you going to let your people do it?
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Chapter 3: How does the NFL's rule on compensatory picks apply here?
Man, Ian's in charge. Ian's in charge of that space. I'm looking forward to learning about this. I said it the other day in Ian's presser, I've never sat in a draft meeting, and so Monday's going to be the first time I'm sitting in a draft meeting, and I've got a lot to learn.
So sitting, observing, being a fly on the wall, if there's something that Ian has a question about or something I can help with, I'm all ears, and I'm happy to share my opinion, but Ian is driving this boat, and he is the one that's leading us moving forward, and I'm excited about that. Ian is incredibly competent and qualified, and he's awesome, so looking forward to watching him do his thing.
The reason I ask that is because Tony Buscelli, who I know very well, actually is in the whole draft process and watches tapes and goes to the scouting and everything. I'm going to be in it, but I'm not driving it. Right. But you're going to be involved.
Yes, I'll be involved and I'll be involved in whatever way Ian needs me. You know, that really is, you know, Arthur from the top down, he believes in servant leadership. And there is no better servant leader than Arthur Blank. And I know that from being there as a player.
Chapter 4: What role does Matt Ryan play in the Falcons' front office?
I have felt that for the last month in the role that I'm in. And really, my role is to be that same person for Kevin, to be that same person, you know, for Ian and really the rest of the building. And so, yeah, I'm going to be involved. Like, I love that kind of stuff. And I love being around it. This is what I'm passionate about.
But I also understand my responsibility is to be there to help out Ian where I can. And, you know, maybe that's offering a different lens and offering a different perspective. But this is Ian's regular season right now, man. He is in it, and he is driving the ship for us.
We'll take two third-round draft picks, please.
What are we doing here? That's where I sit with this. Matt Ryan's title is president. Ian Cunningham's title is general manager.
Chapter 5: How does Ian Cunningham's promotion impact the Bears' draft picks?
And unlike on a baseball team, say the Cubs, for example, where it has different connotation with Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins, Matt Ryan just told everybody what this is. The NFL says, oh, it's a lateral move because Matt Ryan is still listed as president. He is therefore above Ian Cunningham. Ryan Poles is above Ian Cunningham in Chicago. Therefore, it's not a promotion.
He just told you it wasn't. Ian's in charge. The biggest question I have about all of this is, Why don't you want to give them the draft pick? Why? Why are you being so specific about something where the spirit of the law, which is what is usually referred to here as the intent rather than the letter of the law, which is the technicality.
Like, the Bears don't deserve it for hiring somebody and them interviewing, and you understand that this is a promotion for him? Why do you not want to give teams the awards you put into place?
Yeah, Matt Ryan just spelled it out for everybody.
Chapter 6: What are the implications of a lateral move in NFL hiring?
And if I'm a... The by-the-way portion of this, if I'm an Atlanta fan and I'm listening to Matt Ryan there talking about it like it's a hobby, oh, I'm looking forward to learning. Oh, it's going to be great. I'm looking forward to this whole front office. I've never gotten to sit in on a meeting like that. I've got a lot to learn.
It's very interesting the way he's talking about the job and everything that goes with it. So I'm a little concerned about Matt Ryan himself.
Yeah, for Matt Ryan to say that, that's nice that he is confident enough to be able to say that, but that's a little alarming if you're a Falcons fan. A little bit, yeah. In the meantime, we've already gotten a ton of points made on the text line that are good. Yeah, you heard me. Good points on the text line. 312-644-6767. 312 says the NFL won't admit they made a mistake.
Chapter 7: Why is there controversy surrounding the NFL's compensatory pick rules?
They'll just dig in and stick by their original statement. We already know this. We may, but that doesn't mean that we can't raise some cane on behalf of the Bears and the fact that they put rules into place and incentives to do the right thing. And then they're like, no, it's not enough. Let's keep just dangling the carrot for these teams. Come on, man. That's not what this is.
Ian Cunningham got a promotion and It's not the same job he had with the Bears. That is the idea. That is the intent. Do the right thing. It's a victimless crime for you to give up that draft pick. The only victim is the Bears. So what the hell?
Chapter 8: What broader issues in NFL hiring practices are raised in this episode?
I love that. You're right. The text line is good right now. It is hot right now. Guys.
Go text line.
Help me. Let's add another element to it. What is Ryan Pace's role with the Falcons? Yeah, he's there too. I just look it up.
I didn't think he was still there.
Is he still there? It's such a great question. No, he does appear to continue to be there as... Is he still there? He's the vice president of football operations for the Atlanta Falcons. And, of course, if you really don't remember him, he was the GM for the Bears for six years, 2015 to 2021. Yeah, so he's still there. Yeah. Which complicates things further, maybe? I don't know.
If Ryan Pace somehow got the Bears to not get two draft picks, so help me.
Don't let it happen. That's what Ryan Pace is saying.
But the fact of the matter is, even if you think it's debatable, what is the problem with rewarding the intent?
And you know what the worst answer is to all that, Layla? And this is what they're saying. Well, we're going to revisit all of this during the offseason. Even when there is great evidence right here in front of us.
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