Three down, how many more to go?

Over the past seven weeks, the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds have all fired their managers. If history is any indication, the turnover is only beginning.

A fourth job will open when Skip Schumaker exercises his “get out of jail free” card with the Miami Marlins. Other changes are almost certain, whether due to retirements, postseason flameouts or internal conflicts.

Sometimes, these things come out of nowhere. The Chicago Cubs’ hiring of Craig Counsell to replace David Ross at the end of last season was one such move. The St. Louis Cardinals’ firing of Mike Shildt after a 17-game winning streak propelled the team to a wild-card berth in 2021 was another.

Other times, the moves are more predictable. The White Sox’s dismissal of Pedro Grifol in early August was all but inevitable. Even the Reds’ dumping of David Bell earlier this week did not exactly qualify as a surprise.

Stuff will happen. Stuff always happens. Here’s a look at 10 managers under scrutiny:

It’s difficult to imagine the Dodgers blaming Roberts for the organization’s inability to keep pitchers healthy, especially when upper management passed on chances to scapegoat him for their Division Series losses in 2019, ‘22 and ‘23.

Since becoming manager in 2015, Roberts has led the Dodgers to eight NL West titles in nine years and a 106-win season the year they finished second. The team entering Wednesday had won 51 more regular-season games than its nearest competitor, as well as the 2020 World Series.

Blowing a four-game lead to the Padres with eight to play would have placed Roberts in jeopardy, but the Dodgers can clinch the NL West with a win on Thursday. A third straight upset defeat in the DS, however, is still possible. And such an outcome might compel president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to make a change.

Roberts, 52, is under contract through next season, which raises another question: If the Dodgers keep him, would they sign him to another extension or allow him to start 2025 as a lame duck? Based on his accomplishments, Roberts could rightly ask for more than the $8 million average annual salary the Cubs gave Counsell.

Boone’s fate, like Roberts’, might hinge on what happens in the postseason. The noise in New York certainly will grow louder if the Yankees make a quick exit in the DS or even if they advance to the American League Championship Series and perform the way they did in 2022, when they were swept by the Houston Astros.

The Yankees have made the playoffs in all but one of Boone’s seven seasons, and are tied with the Atlanta Braves for the third-most victories in the majors during that time. The current team, though, can be hard to watch. The Yankees are the worst base running team in the majors, according to FanGraphs. Their lapses on the bases and in the field are at some level a reflection on their manager.

Still, the Yankees’ overall collection of talent might be their best since 2009, when they last won the World Series. Boone, 51, will need to be quick-witted in the postseason, deploying pinch hitters and pinch runners, and managing a bullpen without a true closer (though Luke Weaver certainly has looked the part). The Yankees hold an option on Boone for 2025.

Brian Snitker, Atlanta Braves

The Braves are not about to force out Snitker after he kept the team in contention during a season marred by one injury after another. The better question might be whether Snitker — at age 68, after nine seasons as manager and nearly 50 years in the Atlanta organization — still wants to manage.

Under contract through 2025, Snitker might be reluctant to go out on a sour note. He also might be reluctant, after decades of minor-league pay, to sacrifice a salary believed to be in the $1.5 million to $2 million range. But the job is so taxing, health is a concern for every manager. And Snitker talks occasionally about the difficulty of enduring the strain at his age.

An easy solution, if Snitker wants to move on, would be for the Braves to make him a high-paid advisor and keep him part of the organization. If anyone deserves a golden parachute, after six straight division titles and a World Series triumph in 2021, it’s “Snit.”

Baldelli is not solely responsible for the team’s collapse. The Twins seem unlikely to hold him responsible. But the team’s cohesion has eroded since it was swept in Kansas City in early September, amid a 12-23 freefall. And Baldelli, if he survives, might need to adjust his loose, laid-back style, which seemingly has backfired with his young team.

Injuries are part of the problem for a club that has used three rookie starters down the stretch and played without three top position players — Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis — for chunks of the season. But Correa, in comments after Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Marlins at Target Field, indicated certain players were not showing enough urgency, saying of the Twins’ predicament, “Some guys take it as poison and some guys take it as fuel.”

Baldelli, 43, has appeared more frustrated in the past six weeks than at any point during his six years as manager. His team’s lack of edge, though, would appear partly his own doing. Without the presence of an everyday force such as the Cleveland Guardians’ José Ramírez or the Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., the Twins might need a greater push from its manager in 2025.

Skip Schumaker, Miami Marlins

This one is a fait accompli. After the season ends on Sunday, Schumaker will take advantage of the freedom he gained last offseason when the Marlins agreed to void his 2025 option. At that point, the team will be left to replace a manager who, as a free agent, is expected to be coveted by multiple clubs.

Assistant general manager Gabe Kapler, who managed the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and ‘19 and the San Francisco Giants from 2020 to ‘23, would figure to be one candidate. But another possibility is that Kapler will remain in the front office and play a significant role in choosing Schumaker’s successor.

Among the potential candidates: Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz, who was a member of Kapler’s staff in San Francisco; Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough, whom Kapler hired as Los Angeles’ minor-league field coordinator during his tenure as farm director; and Royals bench coach Paul Hoover, who was a coach with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2019 to ‘22 while Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix was in the Rays’ front office.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington seemed to settle the issue on Sept. 11, saying he fully expects Shelton to return, calling him the “right person to manage this team in 2025.” The only question, particularly in the wake of Bell’s dismissal, is whether owner Bob Nutting is content with the status quo.

Before the season began, Nutting said he expected the team to take a “meaningful step forward,” telling The Athletic, “We collectively believe we can compete for a division and a postseason berth.” A 7-20 collapse starting July 31 ensured neither would occur.

The Pirates are headed for their sixth straight losing season. They need two wins to match last year’s total, and it will hardly be a sign of progress if they somehow surpass that number, considering this is the year they added Paul Skenes.

Cherington is completing his fifth season. Shelton, 54, appears safe unless Nutting decides to completely overhaul the operation.

Last winter, coming off 89 wins in Schneider’s first full season, the Jays chased Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto. They ended up with Justin Turner, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Kevin Kiermaier, all of whom they traded, and a club that will finish with the fourth- or fifth-worst record in the American League.

General manager Ross Atkins is not above pointing the finger at Schneider, as he did after the controversial removal of José Berríos in Game 2 of the 2023 Wild Card series. But the Jays keep indicating that they view their crash-and-burn as an aberration, and that they intend to roll out Vlad, Bo and Co. once more in 2025.

If Atkins fires Schneider, 44, it will only increase the attention on his own shortcomings. The Jays entered Wednesday with only 12 homers — 12! — from the cleanup spot. That’s not on the manager.

Grady Sizemore, Chicago White Sox

Let’s follow the Sizemore timeline.

Last season, he was a $15-an-hour intern with the Arizona Diamondbacks. This season, the White Sox gave him his first major-league coaching job. On Aug. 8, general manager Chris Getz named him interim manager in place of Pedro Grifol, saying the team would focus on candidates outside their organization for the permanent position. And on Tuesday, Getz reversed himself, saying Sizemore, 42, would be considered for the job.

Now that’s an ascent!

The White Sox still seem likely to make an outside hire, assuming someone wants to take over their record-tying (as of now) 120-loss juggernaut (there are only 30 of these jobs; someone will). Best of luck to that poor soul.

Bud Black is wrapping up his eighth season in Denver as the Rockies manager. (Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports)

Black, 67, has presided over six straight losing seasons, and the Rockies need to finish 3-1 to avoid their second straight 100-loss campaign. A rebuilding club might benefit from a fresh voice, but virtually everyone likes Black and Rockies owner Dick Monfort operates in an insular bubble, preferring stability over change.

A decision on Black is forthcoming; he is unsigned beyond this season. He had preliminary talks with Monfort about a contract extension during spring training, according to the Denver Post. But no deal was reached, and general manager Bill Schmidt has postponed any talk about Black’s future until the end of the season.

Marmol, 38, appears safe in part because president of baseball operations John Mozeliak plans to return for one more season. Mozeliak is not going to hire a new manager one year before owner Bill DeWitt Jr. installs a new front office. The next head of baseball operations should get to make that choice.

The Cardinals narrowly will avoid losing records in back-to-back full seasons for the first time since 1958-59. Their issues, however, run far deeper than Marmol, who led the team to 93 wins in 2022, his first season. His contract runs through 2026. He will get at least one more shot.

(Top photo of Aaron Boone: Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

The 2024 LPGA Tour season is drawing closer to an end with each month and each tournament gone by, and that means women’s golf legend Lexi Thompson’s full-time stay on tour is also coming to an end. 

Thompson announced at the U.S. Women’s Open that she would be stepping back from full-time play on the LPGA Tour, and though she didn’t use the word retirement, she definitely won’t be on the circuit like she has since she turned professional in 2010 at the age of 15.

Since then, golf fans have shown their love and respect to Thompson, especially this month when she was representing the United States for likely the final time of her career at the Solheim Cup. 

As someone who has had the honor of wearing the Stars and Stripes since 2008 as a Junior Ryder Cup member, with two Olympic Games in 2016 and 2020 along the way as well, Thompson discussed the “emotional week” in Gainesville, Virginia.

“That week in general is my favorite tournament out of my whole career,” Thompson told Fox News Digital while also discussing her partnership with Maxfli heading into this 2024 season. “I always say, any time I can represent my country, I want to be on that team. 

“The Solheim Cup has made so many memories that I’ve cherished along my career and so many friendships that I’m so grateful for. There’s just nothing like it, being able to be a part of a team representing your country.”

LPGA GOLFER LEXI THOMPSON, 29, ABRUPTLY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT, CITING MENTAL HEALTH

Thompson received a raucous ovation when she was introduced on the first tee of her first match, and after solid play by Team USA, they came away with the 15.5-12.5 victory to win the Cup for the first time since 2017. 

“To get the win on U.S. soil, no words can describe that feeling,” Thompson said. “And to be alongside my teammates and play under Stacy Lewis, the assistant captains, they’re all women I’ve looked up to. It’s such a huge honor and the fans were just incredible. There’s nothing like the fans there.”

Lexi Thompson of Team USA poses for a photo with the trophy after defeating Team Europe at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. (Aaron Doster-Imagn Images)

Thompson further explained her love for representing the United States throughout her career. 

“It’s meant everything to me,” she said. “Week in and week out, I always feel like I’m representing my country just being an American. But it’s just different when you step foot out there, wake up, put your country colors on, step on that first tee and hear, ‘Representing the USA’ and then your name.

“Hearing the cheers and chants – as an athlete you always dream of those moments and how all your hard work puts you into that moment. All the pressure and all those expectations, that’s what you live for. To pull off all those shots under that kind of pressure, there’s nothing like it. Those moments are what I’ve lived for.”

Again, Thompson did not use the word retirement, so the 29-year-old still has the possibility to represent her country down the road if the opportunity arises.

Lexi Thompson (Aaron Doster-Imagn Images)

But if the Solheim Cup was the final one, she went out with fans screaming her name and wearing an American flag on her shoulders while holding up the trophy.

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By Jeff Howe, Mike Sando, Mike Jones and Dianna Russini

For a league bound by parity, the NFL is ruled by the organizations with the most stability.

That all starts up top. A stable owner and a trustworthy front office are non-negotiable ingredients to sustained success on the field. The best front offices not only identify talent, they share a vision with each department of the organization and don’t allow office politics to interfere with the priority of winning games.

Or, as one high-ranking executive surveyed for this project said: “It is the balance and interconnectivity of all the different departments and decision-making that goes into the product on the field and the plan for the future. How you balance each of those is the challenge of a good front office.”

The Athletic polled 40 league insiders, including 35 high-ranking executives and five coaches, to compile the NFL Front Office Rankings. Respondents, who were granted anonymity for both their votes and conversations discussing them in exchange for their candor, were asked to submit their top-five front offices, in rank order, based on each franchise’s football operations side. (Respondents were not allowed to vote for their own team.)

The results favored stability, with eight of the top 10 teams featuring general managers who have been in place for at least five years. Four of the top six teams, including the top two, promoted their GMs from within.

“Ultimately, it’s about results,” the high-ranking exec added, “but how you operate day to day is about your process. (Do) you have a sound process in the draft, free agency (and with) contract structure? Are you matching your aggressive roster building with maybe the life cycle of your team? All of those things go into what (makes) the best front offices.”

The scoring system: First-place votes were worth 10 points, second-place seven, third-place five, fourth-place three and fifth-place one. (One respondent split his fifth-place vote among two teams.)

Total points: 259 (15 first-place votes, appeared on 36 ballots)
Owner: Steve Bisciotti
General manager: Eric DeCosta
Head coach: John Harbaugh

It’s been more than five years since Ozzie Newsome stepped down as Baltimore’s GM. His disciples have kept the Ravens in contention nearly every year since.

DeCosta, who was a player personnel intern for the Ravens’ inaugural season in 1996 and has been with the organization ever since, took the reins from Newsome in 2019, and Baltimore’s 56 victories over his first five seasons were tied for the third-most in the league.

DeCosta handled quarterback Lamar Jackson’s complicated contract situation, working past a trade request to execute a five-year, $260 million extension in 2023. Jackson then won his second MVP award last season.

From a talent acquisition standpoint, DeCosta has steered the Ravens toward the trade for linebacker Roquan Smith, has a strong track record in the first (safety Kyle Hamilton, wide receiver Zay Flowers) and middle rounds (defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, tight end Isaiah Likely), landed a priority free agent in running back Derrick Henry and created an environment where a veteran like linebacker Kyle Van Noy can thrive. Of course, those are just a handful of examples.

DeCosta also got out in front of the potential loss of receiver Hollywood Brown, flipping him and a third-rounder to the Arizona Cardinals for a first-round pick that netted center Tyler Linderbaum.

“Consistency,” an NFC executive said of the Ravens’ front office. “They know what a Raven is and understand how to win with those guys.”

That’s a common refrain when discussing DeCosta and his staff. They recognize the types of players and people who will be successful in their program, and they’re certainly aided by the fact that head coach John Harbaugh has manned the sidelines since 2008. All involved know what to expect from one another.

The Ravens’ influence can be felt in many buildings across the NFL. Current general managers Joe Hortiz (Los Angeles Chargers) and Joe Douglas (New York Jets) have experience under Newsome, the architect of Baltimore’s two Super Bowl winners and someone commonly referred to as the best GM in history. Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, considered a likely future GM, also worked for Newsome.

Total points: 174 (13 first-place votes, appeared on 25 ballots)
Owner: Clark Hunt
General manager: Brett Veach
Head coach: Andy Reid

Reid and Veach are a formidable 1-2 punch for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. Veach, who began his career as a coaching intern under Reid with Philadelphia in 2004, followed his mentor to Kansas City. Veach played a significant role in the decision to draft Patrick Mahomes in 2017 (under then-GM John Dorsey, who he succeeded weeks after that draft). Veach rebuilt the offensive line and armed defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo with a talented young defense that ranked among the top 10 in scoring defense four of the past five years.

“Veach grew up around Andy, so I think there is a very clear vision on what types of players they’re looking for and what works in their system,” an executive said. “Along with the winning comes continuity, and I think that staff as a whole has a very strong understanding of what works there. I think Veach and (assistant general manager Mike) Borgonzi are good evaluators. They have an eye for talent along with an understanding of what plays in the league.”

While Mahomes’ deal could be reworked in the not-so-distant future, he’s currently the greatest bargain on the planet because the Chiefs were savvy enough to take care of him before the QB market boom. Mahomes, for his part, sought a long-term partnership that would help the team put together an elite roster around him. The 12 quarterbacks currently ahead of Mahomes in average annual salary have combined to win zero Super Bowls and have 19 playoff wins to his 15.

Said one general manager who voted Kansas City as the top front office: “They have the stability of that head coach along with a guy who is comfortable in that second chair.”

So while Mahomes and Reid have become the faces of the franchise, Veach has been quietly fortifying a roster that’s helped them win three of the past five Super Bowls.

Total points: 151 (3 first-place votes, appeared on 26 ballots)
CEO: Jed York
General manager: John Lynch
Head coach: Kyle Shanahan

The 49ers, like the Chiefs, have a power coach who was instrumental in selecting the GM.

Shanahan and Lynch, after enduring a 10-22 start to their tenure, have reached two Super Bowls and four NFC Championship Games over the past five years. Their 62 regular-season and playoff wins from 2019-23 were the third most in the NFL.

Three former members of the Shanahan/Lynch front office have landed GM jobs elsewhere: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Vikings), Ran Carthon (Titans) and Adam Peters (Commanders).

“From the top on down, they’re on the same page, share the vision on how to build a team,” an AFC talent evaluator said. “They hit on late picks, and those guys contribute. They’ve got the best roster (with) seven All-Pros.”

The Niners’ upper-echelon talent rivals any team in the league. They have extended many of their key pieces, even if negotiations have gotten contentious at times with Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams.

“The issues they had,” said a general manager, referring to this summer’s Aiyuk and Williams holdouts, “were because they have so many good football players.”

The 49ers invested three first-round picks in the ill-fated 2021 draft trade up for quarterback Trey Lance, but the development of Brock Purdy from Mr. Irrelevant into a potential long-term franchise QB made up for Lance’s failure to launch in San Francisco. If they pay Purdy near the top of the market, the challenge then becomes balancing out the roster with those new cap constraints.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Total points: 140 (5 first-place votes, appeared on 23 ballots)
Owner: Jeffrey Lurie
General manager: Howie Roseman
Head coach: Nick Sirianni

Voters praised Roseman for his analytical and forward-thinking approach to roster-building, which has helped keep Eagles in the playoff conversation for the majority of his tenure, including a Super Bowl LII victory and another NFC title in 2022.

Since Roseman’s promotion to GM in 2010 — with a few gap years when his title and role evolved during the Chip Kelly years — the Eagles have reached the playoffs eight times. They’ve had a winning record in six of their last seven seasons.

“Howie is really aggressive,” an executive said. “That really stands out about the way they do things. They go for it. He’s not afraid to take risks on players. I think that’s a really good quality when you get into that role, and he’s quick to move on when something isn’t working. Those are attractive traits in a general manager. They’ve also always had guys in Philly who are good evaluators.”

Among the Eagles’ best attributes: cultivating front-office talent. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, Jets GM Joe Douglas and Browns GM Andrew Berry all worked for Roseman. Ditto for Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham. Current Bucs general manager Jason Licht worked alongside Roseman in Philly from 2003-07. Current Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby has interviewed for GM jobs elsewhere.

“The resources they have in Philly, the access that you get to all departments, you can learn a lot,” another executive said.

Under Roseman’s watch, the Eagles pulled off the rare feat of drafting a second-round quarterback and then developing him to the point that they awarded him a top-of-the-market second contract. Of the 20 quarterbacks averaging $25 million or more annually on their current deals, only Hurts and Dak Prescott got their contracts from the team that drafted them outside the first round. Hurts has been protected by an elite offensive line, while the Eagles had enough flexibility to trade for A.J. Brown and draft DeVonta Smith in the first round, and still took care of both star receivers with second contracts.

The Eagles have had more turnover at head coach than the teams ranked ahead of them, but Roseman’s consistent approach has kept their identity intact.

Total points: 62 (appeared on 20 ballots)
Owner: Sheila Ford Hamp
General manager: Brad Holmes
Head coach: Dan Campbell

Holmes, who took over in 2021, helped guide the Lions to one of the best seasons in franchise history last year.

As one general manager put it: “If you asked: Who is the No. 1 GM in the league right now, this minute? It might be him. I love the demeanor, love what he stands for.”

Holmes and Campbell see things through the same lens, which has helped the GM acquire the types of players who will fare well for Campbell. They’ve built a roster that appears tough, selfless and talented.

“Detroit has done a great job of figuring out their style and getting guys who fit that in the draft and free agency” an NFC executive said.
Holmes’ first-round picks include right tackle Penei Sewell, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, wideout Jameson Williams, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell and cornerback Terrion Arnold. The Lions have built one of the best offensive lines in the league and have revitalized quarterback Jared Goff by building around him.

This was hardly a small-scale rebuild for an organization that had one playoff victory in the Super Bowl era before the new regime’s arrival, and Holmes brought a turnaround in a remarkably short time. When building out the roster, Campbell has said he wants players who would have been great teammates during his playing career, and Holmes has delivered.

“Detroit has done a nice job building it in their own image, which is unique to everybody else,” an executive said.

Total points: 54 (appeared on 16 ballots)
Team president: Mark Murphy
General manager: Brian Gutekunst
Head coach: Matt LaFleur

The Packers’ stability at quarterback over the decades mirrors their stability in the front office, as Gutekunst, like his predecessor, Ted Thompson, worked under Hall of Fame Packers GM Ron Wolf in the Green Bay front office two-plus decades ago. It’s that tradition as a scouting organization that helped Green Bay land so high on this list.

Led by an influx of young home-grown talent, including quarterback Jordan Love, the team reached the playoffs last season while carrying $65 million in dead money, most of it from the Aaron Rodgers trade. Reaching the playoffs and blowing out Dallas in the wild-card round signaled that the Packers were two years ahead of schedule on their rebuild. They have another $51 million in dead money this season, but could be back in the playoffs if Love, who could return from a sprained knee this week, and his young supporting cast continue to develop.

Gutekunst identified Love as Rodgers’ successor with a polarizing first-round pick in 2020, part of a plan to navigate one of the most complicated quarterback transitions in recent memory.

“Gutekunst’s humility and authenticity and being a smart football guy really shows up,” an executive said. “He’s very process-driven. There’s no panic there. They’ve made good decisions in free agency. They know their roster. They know their head coach. It’s more of a methodical, process-driven deal where they don’t rush to make a quick fix. They trust their process.”

Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur could have the Packers back in championship contention even before 2025, when the books are cleared of all that dead money.

Total points: 52.5 (1 first-place vote, appeared on 11 ballots)
Chair: Jody Allen
General manager: John Schneider
Head coach: Mike Macdonald

Schneider’s 14-year partnership with former coach Pete Carroll produced 10 playoff appearances, two conference championships and a victory over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII. Schneider, who helped Carroll build a historic defense in the early 2010s, was instrumental in identifying Russell Wilson as a franchise quarterback.

This is now a franchise in transition after the 2022 trade sending Wilson to Denver and Carroll’s departure following last season. But many of Schneider’s top lieutenants have been with the team for more than a decade and remain in place.

“Everybody just loves to work there,” a GM said. “They have a great front office vibe between coaching and personnel (staff). John Schneider is one of those collaborators. They draft well. Even with Pete leaving, the transition seemed very smooth.”

The Seahawks haven’t won a playoff game since 2019, but are 3-0 in Macdonald’s first season and are coming off back-to-back 9-8 seasons with a resurrected Geno Smith taking over for Wilson. The decisions to draft Wilson and later trade him reflected what voters saw as a willingness to make decisions without regard for potential backlash. The trade sending Wilson to Denver became one of the league’s most fruitful deals of the past few years.

“They have a clear vision of what they want to be,” an executive said. “(Schneider) had Pete (Carroll) for 13 years, and they had great communication and shared a vision. (It’s a) very stable organization. John is a very humble guy and has great relationships throughout the league and in the media. He is plugged in and knows what is going on.

“Even though they have had great continuity, he never settles and is always looking for what is next and asking, ‘What am I missing?’ Never thinks he is the smartest guy in the room and listens. Great leader and respected by everyone because he is so genuine.”

Total points: 48.5 (1 first-place vote, appeared on 13 ballots)
Owner: Stan Kroenke
General manager: Les Snead
Head coach: Sean McVay

McVay’s hiring in 2017 became a line of demarcation for a front office featuring president Kevin Demoff (with the team since 2009) and Snead (hired in 2012). Those three have combined to form a front office willing to take home-run swings, most notably the 2021 trade acquisition of quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The franchise found a new identity, and achieved a level of success it hadn’t experienced since the turn of the century, including a victory over Cincinnati in Super Bowl LVI. Snead famously ushered in a “F— them picks” era of roster-building, flipping first-round choices for veteran stars at a time when conventional wisdom held that, with the rookie-wage scale in place after the 2011 CBA, draft capital was king. The Rams didn’t use a first-round pick from 2017 to ’23, but ranked sixth in winning percentage (.609) and third in playoff victories over that span.

The aggressive strategy seemed to catch up to the Rams in 2022, when injuries ravaged a veteran roster that also lacked depth. But McVay led them back to the postseason in 2023.

“I think it’s pretty cool how they sold out to win a Super Bowl,” a head coach said, “and then they refurbished pretty quickly.”

Total points: 33 (appeared on 9 ballots)
Owners: Terry and Kim Pegula
General manager: Brandon Beane
Head coach: Sean McDermott

Beane arrived from the Carolina Panthers in 2017 and, with McDermott, has morphed the Bills into a perennial contender. He traded up to draft quarterback Josh Allen in 2018, built up the roster around him and gave Allen the resources and time to develop from an unpolished QB into one of the league’s best players.

“Beane is the best GM in the NFL,” one executive said, adding he “understands people and culture.”

After three consecutive losses in the divisional round, Beane and the Bills traded wide receiver Stephon Diggs and moved on from aging, expensive defensive stalwarts. The early returns appear positive for the 3-0 Bills.

“I think Beane is a top-five GM,” said a general manager. “He is super smart, number one. It’s never about him. If you look at the drafting and free agents they have signed, how patient they have been with the head coach, got the quarterback right — that was a 50/50 deal. I’m a big fan of him. I’m a big fan of his coach. He’s got all the right stuff, in a tough market, by the way. This is not a place free agents are clamoring to go to.”

Total points: 19 (1 first-place vote, appeared on 4 ballots)
Owner: Art Rooney II
General manager: Omar Khan
Head coach: Mike Tomlin

The Steelers’ 2022 transition from longtime GM Kevin Colbert to Khan, who has been with the franchise since 2001, marks the most significant recent change for one of the NFL’s most stable organizations.

Mike Tomlin is the longest-tenured coach in the league and one of only three Steelers head coaches since 1969. He’s never had a losing season.

“They are old-school,” an executive said. “They have been in the same defensive system forever, and they are really good at finding players who fit it.”

If there’s a critique, the Steelers have been searching for a long-term quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger began to decline. But with a top-10 scoring defense four times in five years since Roethlisberger retired, they’ve managed to stay in the AFC North race annually despite uncertainty under center.

Others receiving votes

Only two other teams — the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns — received multiple top-five votes from our panelists. The Dallas Cowboys appeared on one ballot, receiving a first-place vote. Six other teams received a single vote.

(Top illustration of Howie Roseman, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, Brett Veach: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Mitchell Leff, Michael Zagaris / San Francisco 49ers, David Eulitt / Getty Images)