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Falcons hire Ian Cunningham as general manager

NFL: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans SaintsNov 10, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Atlanta Falcons helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Falcons hired Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham as their next GM on Thursday.

The decision came not long after the team announced it had completed second interviews with Cunningham and Houston Texans assistant GM James Liipfert for the position.

Cunningham, 40, spent four seasons (2022-25) in his role in Chicago. Before that, he worked for the Philadelphia Eagles for five seasons, holding various roles such as director of college scouting, assistant director of player personnel and director of player personnel.

The University of Virginia alumnus began his NFL front office career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 as a player personnel assistant. After five seasons in that role, he worked in the Ravens’ scouting department from 2013-16.

Cunningham will report to Matt Ryan, the former MVP quarterback serving in Atlanta’s newly created president of football role.

The hiring completes the Falcons’ revamp of their leadership roles. They fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 season in 2025. Kevin Stefanski was named the new head coach on Jan. 17.

“It was evident through our rigorous interview process Ian was the right choice for our general manager position,” Ryan said in a statement. “His vision for our team and organization aligned exactly with the type of leader we were seeking to help take the Falcons to the next level.

“Throughout Ian’s career, including Super Bowl championships in Baltimore and Philadelphia, Ian has demonstrated the drive and focus it takes to build championship contenders and put them in the position to win games.

“We love his broad and deep experience across every aspect of talent evaluation and know he’s learned from some of the best in the league. Pairing him with Coach Stefanski is exciting for us, and we can’t wait to see them bring our shared vision to life in everything we do starting right now.”

Cunningham and Liipfert were the only GM candidates to receive a second interview in Atlanta.

Liipfert, a Georgia native, also served in the Texans organization from 2018-24 in various roles, including director of college scouting and executive director of player personnel. He spent nine seasons in the New England Patriots’ scouting department (2009-17).

The Falcons also interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl, San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, Kansas City Chiefs assistant GM Mike Bradway and Eagles senior personnel director Joe Douglas.

–Field Level Media

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NFLPA still plans to collect team report cards despite arbitration ruling

NFL: AFC Championship Game-New England Patriots at Denver BroncosJan 25, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft before the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

An NFL memo sent Friday morning informed all teams that the players association no longer can publish its annual report cards, which rank the franchises on everything from the locker room to the owner to the treatment of families.

That is the result of a grievance filed by the league against the NFL Players Association, according to the memo.

“We are pleased to report that the NFL prevailed in the grievance filed against the NFL Players Association, challenging its practice of creating and publicizing annual ‘Team Report Cards’,” the memo said. “The arbitrator held that the publication of Report Cards disparaging NFL clubs and individuals violates the Collective Bargaining Agreement and issued an Order prohibiting the NFLPA from publishing or publicly disclosing the results of future player Report Cards.”

The 2025 report was the third produced by the NFLPA. The NFLPA made it clear in a statement that it still plans to collect the report cards even if the results can no longer be made public.

“The ruling upholds our right to survey players and share the results with players and clubs,” the NFLPA statement said. “While we strongly disagree with the restriction on making those results public, that limitation does not stop the program or its impact. Players will continue to receive the results, and teams will continue to hear directly from their locker rooms.

“Importantly, the arbitrator rejected the NFL’s characterization of the process, finding the Team Report Cards to be fair, balanced, and increasingly positive over time. Our methodology is sound. The Team Report Cards exist to serve players. That mission remains unchanged. We will continue working to ensure players’ experiences are heard, respected, and acted on – by their teams, by their union, and wherever else possible.”

The survey was designed to improve overall working conditions for the players but also to give them the information they need when considering factors to help them make career decisions, such as free agency.

Teams were given letter grades in 11 categories that concerned ownership, coaching, strength and conditioning programs, as well as areas such as travel, locker room facilities, nutrition and treatment of player families.

Last year, the Miami Dolphins ranked first overall out of the 32 teams, with No. 1 votes in seven of the categories. Owner Stephen Ross was the highest-graded owner. He received an A-plus rating, as did head coach Mike McDaniel, who was fired after the conclusion of the season.

Coming in at No. 2 were the Minnesota Vikings, who ranked first in treatment of families and locker room. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and the owners, the Wilf family, ranked third overall.

In last place were the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were dinged, especially, for their facilities, but players also said the team needed an upgraded food and dining area. Coach Jonathan Gannon received an A grade from players — the only A on the Arizona report card — while ownership ranked No. 30 overall with a D-minus grade.

Gannon also was fired at the end of the season.

Coming in No. 31 were the New England Patriots. After the 2024 survey, owner Robert Kraft made improvements, such as investing $50 million in a new facility next to the stadium, currently under construction, and improving services for family members.

Still, Kraft –whose teams have won six Super Bowl games — ranked only No. 30 among team owners with a D.

The Patriots, under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, won the AFC title in 2025 but lost to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX last weekend.

–Field Level Media

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Victoria Mboko, Karolina Muchova to square off in Doha title match

Tennis: Australian OpenJan 25, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Victoria Mboko of Canada in action against Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round of the women’s singles at the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

No. 10 seed Victoria Mboko delivered six aces while recording a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Jelena Ostapenko on Friday to reach the final of the Qatar Open at Doha.

Mboko took down Ostapenko one day after upsetting Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in a quarterfinal match.

The Canadian will face Czech Karolina Muchova in Saturday’s title match. The No. 14 seed beat Maria Sakkari of Greece 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in her semifinal match.

Mboko, 19, will be seeking her third career WTA title on Saturday. She also will enter the Top 10 on Monday, regardless of whether she wins (at No. 9) or loses (No. 10) in the championship match.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Mboko said afterwards. “I never expected something to happen so fast for me. I just have been taking it day by day, tournament by tournament. Every tournament I enter, I want to do well. I don’t really hold that much expectation of myself. It’s not like when I enter a tournament I’m going to say I’m going to win it, but you always want to try your best.

“I think this came relatively fast, but it’s a nice feeling. It’s nice to see that, to have that milestone, to see that number. So, yeah, I’m pretty happy with that.”

Ostapenko of Latvia started strong by winning the first two games of the match. Mboko then took over and won 11 of the next 12.

Mboko said she will stick to her plan in the title match.

“I don’t want to change something up because what I’ve been doing has been working so far,” Mboko said. “I just want to rest up the best I can, focus for tomorrow, tomorrow’s a new day, and just play my game.”

Muchova, 29, has won just one singles title and that came in Seoul in 2019. The clash with Mboko will be her seventh WTA final.

“It’s going to be the first time,” Muchova said of facing Mboko. “I watch her here and she’s playing incredible. I know her since last year, probably all of us, she has this boom. I think she’s an incredible, strong athlete. So it’s for sure going to be a very tough battle.”

Muchova had four aces against Sakkari, who saved 11 of 17 break points. Sakkari wilted in the final set as Muchova won the first five games en route to closing out the win.

“I tried to play a little more aggressive, I would say,” Muchova said of her third-set strategy. “I tried to change it up more. I wanted to go more for the returns, go for more lines. I think that it paid off because then we didn’t play such long rallies, which I think she’s striving at, and I was able to get some faster points on my side.”

Muchova saved 6 of 10 break points against Sakkari.

–Field Level Media

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SMU on right side of bubble as road test against Syracuse looms

NCAA Basketball: Southern Methodist at PittsburghFeb 7, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; SMU MUstangs guard B.J. Davis-Ray (9) drives on Pittsburgh Panthers Damarco Minor (7) during the second half at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers lost 86-67. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

SMU takes its varied offensive attack on the road as it looks to build its resume for the postseason when it plays against host Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference game.

It’s the first time the teams will square off in Syracuse after SMU defeated the Orange twice last season — once at home and again on a neutral floor in the ACC tournament — in the only other contests between the programs.

The Mustangs (17-7, 6-5 ACC) head to central New York after an 89-81 home win over Notre Dame on Tuesday. Boopie Miller and Jaron Pierre Jr. traded off bell-cow duties in the game, with Pierre scoring 18 of his team-leading 22 points in the second half after Miller racked up 18 of his 20 before halftime.

“That’s how it’s got to be every game,” Miller said. “If I’m off, Jaron got to pick it up. And if he’s off, I’ve got to pick it up. So that’s how it’s going to be for the rest of the season. We’ve just got to keep bringing guys along so we can keep winning.”

Corey Washington added 14 points and Samet Yigitoglu racked up 11 points and 10 rebounds in the victory for SMU, which has captured back-to-back games and is back on track for an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The Mustangs are a No. 9 seed in ESPN’s latest bracketology update posted on Friday.

Syracuse (14-11, 5-7) beat Cal 107-100 at home in double overtime in its most recent outing, getting 27 points from Nate Kingz and 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds from William Kyle III before he was forced from the game with leg cramps in the second extra period.

J.J. Starling scored 21 points and collected a season-high four steals for the Orange, who snapped a two-game losing streak and produced their second victory in a stretch of eight games. Donnie Freeman (16 points), Naithan George (14) and Sadiq White Jr. (10) all also scored in double figures.

“One thing you can’t question is this team’s fight,” Syracuse coach Adrian Autry said. “This team fights every game. They don’t give up. And you know, that’s what we’re gonna keep doing until we can’t fight anymore.”

–Field Level Media

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