Let’s be honest—while the players get the glory, a lot of that on-field success starts with the suits upstairs. From crushing the draft to pulling off sneaky-good trades and navigating the salary cap like pros, these front offices have figured out how to build winning teams without breaking a sweat.
So if you’ve ever looked at another fan base and thought, “Why can’t our team be run like that?”—this list is for you. Here are 10 NFL front offices that have the rest of the league watching with a mix of admiration and envy.
1. Baltimore Ravens
If front office play had a Hall of Fame, the Ravens would already have a wing. Eric DeCosta picked up where Ozzie Newsome left off, keeping Baltimore at the top with sharp drafting (hello, Kyle Hamilton and Zay Flowers), clutch trades (Roquan Smith, anyone?), and that perfectly timed Lamar Jackson extension.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Andy Reid and Brett Veach basically turned KC into a football empire. Drafting Patrick Mahomes was the ultimate cheat code, but the real flex is how they continually find draft steals and put together a defense that can hold its own—pure front office wizardry.
3. San Francisco 49ers
John Lynch and crew have mastered the art of building a roster that’s both deep and dynamic. They draft well, develop even better, and earn extra draft picks just for doing the right thing when it comes to hiring—front office goals.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Howie Roseman has turned cap gymnastics and bold trades into an art form. He’s helped Philly win two Super Bowls, all while keeping the talent pipeline flowing and the roster stacked.
5. Detroit Lions
Wait, the Lions? Yep. Under Brad Holmes, Detroit has gone from NFL punchline to legit contender. With hits like Aidan Hutchinson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jahmyr Gibbs, this front office is cooking something special—and fans are loving it.
6. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay’s front office plays the long game—and plays it well. Even with their big-name QB transitions in the past, they keep drafting, developing, and staying relevant without throwing cash around like it’s Black Friday.
7. Seattle Seahawks
John Schneider just keeps making it work. Despite losing DK Metcalf this off-season, they’ve retooled on the fly and kept Seattle in the mix year after year, even when things got messy.
8. Los Angeles Rams
Les Snead doesn’t care about your draft picks—and somehow, it works. The Rams went full send on proven stars, got a Super Bowl out of it, and proved you don’t always need patience if you’ve got a plan.
Read More: Ranking the 10 Best Front Offices in the NFL
9. Buffalo Bills
Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott built around Josh Allen and turned Buffalo into an AFC mainstay. They’ve drafted smart, spent wisely, and built a roster that’s deep, tough, and ready to compete every year.
Read More: The 10 Most Incompetent Front Offices in the NFL, Ranked
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers don’t do drama—they just draft and develop like clockwork. From T.J. Watt to a never-ending line of solid contributors, Pittsburgh’s front office is a blueprint for sustained success without ever hitting the reset button.
Read More: 10 NFL Front Offices That Keep Doubling Down on Bad Ideas
