Overview
- The NFL informed Chicago on Friday that its appeal was denied and the case is closed, leaving the Bears without compensatory draft picks.
- Under Resolution JC-2A, teams receive two third-round picks when a minority coach or executive is hired elsewhere as a head coach or the primary football executive.
- Atlanta named Matt Ryan president of football operations and its primary football executive, so the league ruled that GM Ian Cunningham does not meet the policy’s threshold.
- Bears leaders George McCaskey, Kevin Warren, and Ryan Poles met with Roger Goodell during the appeal and pointed to public comments that Cunningham effectively runs Atlanta’s roster.
- The ruling fixes Chicago’s 2026 draft at seven selections without the sought third-rounders and has fueled criticism that the NFL followed the letter rather than the spirit of its diversity policy.