Just like Kevin Stefanski, Ian Cunningham loves people he's worked with before, and it's showed throughout the Atlanta Falcons' offseason approach. And that only continued as the Falcons found their new assistant general manager, so despite the odd timing, this is no April Fools Day prank.
After former assistant GM Kyle Smith left Atlanta to join the MiamI Dolphins, the Dirty Birds did not rush to fill his post. Cunningham was hired two months ago, but a little over three weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft, he and Matt Ryan finally found someone to work collaboratively with the new regime.
According to Adam Schefter, the Falcons are hiring Philadelphia Eagles' vice president of football operations Jeff Scott to be their new assistant GM. Scott has spent the last five seasons in Philadelphia, including one with Cunningham, learning under Howie Roseman, which is intriguing.
The Atlanta Falcons are hiring Jeff Scott to be their new assistant GM
Before being promoted to his current job in 2024, Scott served as Philadelphia's director of football operations for two seasons after joining them as a senior pro scout in 2021. Before that, he spent nine seasons as a scout for the Washington Commanders, so he has got plenty of experience.
In 2018, Washington promoted Scott to director of football strategy in addition to his scouting title, where he apparently provided weekly analysis for advanced scouting of opponents and helped the front office evaluate players the Commanders could look at in free agency or the NFL Draft.
Scott joined the NFL ranks as a salary cap intern, so he also assisted Washington's front office with contract negotiations, salary cap planning, working with both the player personnel department and the coaching staff, so while Matt Ryan is a czar for the front office, Scott is likely the utilityman.
While his season working with Cunningham matters, it's his own track record that got him this job. Scott has been a key cog in helping the Eagles draft stud after stud in the NFL Draft while maintaining one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, which is why they have produced so many future GMs.
Scott has only been working in the NFL since he got his sports management degree from Georgetown in 2012, so in this little time, his track record speaks volumes. Anyone with ties to Roseman deserves a shot, but with all of the hats he's put on over the years makes this hire worth it.