Masterminds of the NFL: Ranking the Best Front Offices That Thrive Through Change

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

** EDITOR’S NOTE - Originally published last December, this piece sparked a ton of conversation among league insiders and fans alike. With thousands of new subscribers since then, I wanted to re-share the full rankings for those who missed them — and update a few notes along the way **

The NFL playoff race is heating up with spots being secured by some of the most perennially successful franchises.

Meanwhile, others are falling by the wayside with each passing week as the regular season enters its closing stretch.

Franchises like the Philadelphia Eagles have become a perennial threat to hoist the Lombardi out of the NFC, in search of a third Super Bowl appearance in the last eight seasons. Similarly, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a model of consistency, and few rosters have benefited more from stability within the organization than the foundations that have been set in places like Kansas City and Baltimore over the past decade.

Yet, not every contender is created equal.

Not every roster is built by a front office that has the luxury of retaining top executives year after year and is forced to find ways to win despite turnover in some of the most influential positions within the building.

So, what separates the most successful front offices from franchises such as the New York Jets, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, where despite multiple attempts at wholesale rebuilds and countless dawnings of new eras heralded by the arrival of the next ascending star at general manager and or head coach can’t seem to break through the proverbial glass ceiling regardless of how many new approaches or roster overhauls are attempted as the fruit of new organizational philosophies often imported from teams at the peak of championship success?

One NFL agent who represents several executives in buildings across the NFL believes that a front office led by a general manager capable of executing every lever of roster building at the highest level while sustaining at least a modicum of consistency in philosophy regardless of who the other decision-makers are surrounding them is paramount to getting multiple bites at the Super Bowl apple.

“An NFL agent for 20 years,” he tells me. “I have found the most successful organizations are those that prioritize consistency and experience. The most respected general managers that I reflect on have all won Super Bowls and, excel by addressing every inquiry, resolving even the smallest issues, and staying true to their values and core competencies.

“They understand the agent relationship which is beneficial during Free Agency whether it is Priority Vets or UDFA at the end of the draft. Their success is built on having a clear plan, strong support systems, and unwavering commitment to what they do best.”

Then, there’s the ability to mine diamonds in the rough off the practice squads of teams across the league, a track record of success when it comes to filling out the bottom of the roster with players claimed off the waiver wire who develop into key contributors when called upon due to injury or simply rising up the depth chart. And, which general managers and front offices are bold enough to zig on a contingency plan when they intended to zag such as the Steelers signing Russell Wilson after trading for Justin Fields or the Vikings drafting J.J. McCarthy after signing Sam Darnold.

Consider this an attempt to rank the top front offices across the league based on a specific set of criteria; sustained postseason success, the ability to thrive as an organization despite premier personnel evaluating talent leaving for influential roles elsewhere, and a track record of turning over sizable portions of the roster without dipping towards the top of the draft from the summit of championship contenders.

The most successful teams across the NFL cultivate winning cultures. Often, those cultures are forged because of the convictions in their decisions and commitment to adapting to what is called upon during a given moment of an offseason or aftermath of a devastating injury to a key player, rather than needlessly throwing money at the next marquee free agent whose best days may be behind him but his name brings excitement and hope to a fanbase or locker room.

While teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers are often recognized as among the NFL’s best-run franchises, they fall outside the scope of this particular ranking because of the criteria established.

These rankings prioritize front offices that have demonstrated sustained success in the face of significant internal or roster turnover, including the departure of premier talent evaluators or undertaking major roster rebuilds.

Stability and continuity, while admirable, are not the primary focus here.

For example, the Ravens have been a model of stability under general manager Eric DeCosta, who seamlessly succeeded Ozzie Newsome in 2019, and head coach John Harbaugh, who has been at the helm since 2008. While Baltimore consistently reloads talent and remains competitive, their success has largely been built on organizational continuity rather than overcoming disruptive changes. For as long as Lamar Jackson is behind center and Harbaugh on the sidelines, expect DeCosta’s Ravens to consistently rank in the pantheon atop the AFC.

Similarly, the Packers have adhered to a steadfast draft-and-develop philosophy under Brian Gutekunst, benefiting from decades of stability at the quarterback position until and now through the recent transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. Their ability to stay competitive has been remarkable, but the Packers haven’t faced the frequent shakeups that are central to the rankings’ criteria.

The 49ers have achieved success under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, whose partnership since 2017 has created a perennial contender. However, like the Ravens and Packers, the 49ers’ success has been driven by consistency in their leadership structure rather than an ability to adapt to significant turnover or upheaval.

The franchises included in these rankings, by contrast, have thrived despite dramatic shifts, whether through rebuilding rosters, replacing key personnel, or navigating major leadership transitions. Their ability to remain among the NFL’s elite while embracing bold, unconventional strategies and handling adversity is what sets them apart under these parameters.

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Here are the rankings:

1. Philadelphia Eagles

Howie Roseman seems to conduct a masterclass each offseason by making bold and aggressive free agent signings to buttress a roster whose foundation is built upon relentlessly targeting prospects that marry upside, value, and need throughout the NFL Draft.

Roseman’s diligent and relentless commitment to a core philosophy delivered the Eagles a second Lombardi Trophy in eight seasons, and has Philadelphia as a favorite to repeat in 2025.