The Chicago Bears Comp Picks Situation has New Hope

By [Staff Writer]

Chicago, IL — When the NFL released its list of compensatory selections for the 2026 draft last month, the Chicago Bears were conspicuously absent. The ruling appeared to extinguish the club’s lingering hope of receiving draft capital for the off-season departure of Assistant General Manager Ian Cunningham, who was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their new General Manager. Yet, inside Halas Hall, the matter is far from closed.

The sticking point is the league’s interpretation of the Rooney Rule. Teams must designate a single primary football decision-maker—whether that person carries the title of general manager, team president, or head of football operations. Any executive beneath that individual, regardless of title, is viewed as a secondary voice. Because the Falcons already list a separate person as their top football authority, the NFL treated Cunningham’s move laterally, disqualifying the Bears from the standard compensation awarded when minority executives depart for elevated positions elsewhere.

Chicago initially appealed the decision, arguing that Atlanta’s organizational chart mirrors its own, a structure they believe should qualify them for picks. That appeal was denied. Undeterred, Chairman George McCaskey, Team President Kevin Warren, and General Manager Ryan Poles boarded a flight to New York for a face-to-face meeting with Commissioner Roger Goodell at this week’s annual owners’ meetings, resurrecting the issue.

Speaking to reporters after Tuesday’s session, Warren confirmed the trip and expressed measured optimism. “We laid out our case thoroughly and respectfully,” he said. “We feel we deserve the compensatory picks, and we expect a final decision soon.”

Time is short. The 2026 draft kicks off later this month, leaving little runway for the league to insert additional choices. Still, insiders believe Goodell could craft a compromise—perhaps awarding the Bears a single selection in 2027 while instructing the competition committee to tighten the Rooney Rule’s language for future cycles. Such a move would acknowledge both the uniqueness of this situation and the evolving definitions of front-office hierarchy.

Until the league rules, Chicago’s football operations staff will continue preparing for every scenario, hopeful that a late reprieve can add valuable capital to their rebuilding effort.