Le Journal

Now the Falcons general manager search is really ramping up. On Wednesday, we learned that the Falcons put in for a flurry of interview requests with Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, Texans assistant GM James Liipfert, and 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams. They join Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl, who the team is already interviewing, as candidates for Atlanta’s opening. There’s a good group here. All of them have college scouting backgrounds to some degree, and all of them come from good organizations; Cunningham spent time with the Ravens and Eagles before the Bears, Liipfert was with the Patriots before the Texans, Williams has been a 49er for a long time, and Weidl also spent time with the Eagles before the Steelers. Williams is the outlier in terms of title, but the more varied set of responsibilities that title implies might interest a Falcons team with an inexperienced president of football in Matt Ryan. I would probably lean toward Cunningham or Weidl, but I would also say there’s nobody on this list I’d be unhappy with at this point. Cunningham should still be considered the favorite if he’s allowed to interview for the gig, given that he’d come highly recommended from Ryan’s friend and Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and that he’s been instrumental in the Bears achieving the kind of stunning short-term turnaround the Falcons want for themselves. If all goes well, we should know who the new GM is within a week or so.

Baker Mayfield says he can’t wait to play Kevin Stefanski’s Atlanta Falcons twice a year, something he has made clear after taking exception to an article from AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter. Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach. https://t.co/jUUsYkvlOC— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 20, 2026 Failed might be considered harsh, but it’s an accurate summation of Mayfield’s Browns career. After getting to hand-pick Freddie Kitchens to be his head coach, the Browns were a disaster and brought Kevin Stefanski in to help clean up the mess. He did so immediately, helping the Browns reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Then 2021 happened. This is a complicated and ugly breakup, one that had a player’s dad posting film of his son being wide open and not getting the ball, but no one is a victim. The situation ultimately ended with Mayfield and the Browns not seeing eye to eye, and the parties mutually agreed that moving one was the best move. Mayfield may be bitter, but it’s clear this ended up being the best-case scenario for him. Still, Mayfield seems to have some new motivation going into 2026, and we’ll see if that helps him produce better results against the Falcons. Mayfield is 2-4 against the team since becoming the starter in Tampa Bay, with the 2025 season resulting in a 1-1 record and a split division title. The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive NFC South races to date, and that’s saying a lot considering the season just ended in a three-way tie. Rivals and hate are part of the fun, so bring on the antics.