Ian Cunningham’s strategy of building football teams from the offensive and defensive lines was highlighted on Mar. 5 as a key factor in the Chicago Bears’ successful 2025 season, according to comments made at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The topic is significant as Cunningham now takes over in Atlanta, bringing with him a philosophy that has shown results. The Atlanta Falcons compete in the National Football League’s NFC South division and are based in Atlanta, Georgia, according to the official website. The team began as an expansion franchise in 1965 and has advanced to the Super Bowl twice, reaching it in both 1998 and 2016.
Kevin Fishbain, a reporter for The Athletic covering the Chicago Bears, said that when Cunningham and Ryan Poles first joined the Bears’ front office in 2022, they faced considerable challenges. “They came in and they inherited a really difficult situation,” Fishbain said. “There was not a lot of cap space. There wasn’t a first-round pick. They had a lot of contracts they had to get rid of.” Fishbain described how these early difficulties shaped their approach: “It was a year that ‘callused’ much of the Bears’ front office… but it also helped forge a path forward.” This groundwork led to what Fishbain called “this magical run that surprised a lot of people” during Chicago’s NFC North title win and their first playoff victory in fifteen seasons.
Fishbain explained that after initial efforts focused on accumulating draft picks—such as selecting Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker—the team shifted its focus toward strengthening its offensive line. Both Poles and Cunningham are former offensive linemen themselves, which influenced their decision-making. Their selection of Darnell Wright paid off when he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025.
The transformation continued with trades for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, along with signing Drew Dalman as center. As Fishbain recounted: “They do all of that and end up having one of the best offensive lines in football.” Statistical improvements followed; quarterback Caleb Williams went from being sacked 68 times in 2024 to just 24 times in 2025.
Fishbain emphasized persistence: “I think (Cunningham) has seen that you have to keep taking swings knowing it’s not always going to work out… What they were able to do this past offseason… is a great blueprint for anybody.” He added: “The 2025 Bears probably validated what Ian would tell anybody, which is it starts in the trenches… That offensive line was so good this past year, and it was the best Bears season we have seen in a long time.”
As Cunningham begins his tenure with Atlanta—whose mascot is Freddie the Falcon according to the official website—he reiterated his commitment: “Smart, tough, physical,” Cunningham said at his introductory press conference. “We’re going to build through the trenches.”
