Top 5 best NFL GMs of all time

One remembers to curse NFL GMs only when things go wrong. But when things are going right, their contributions are often ignored and praise is lavished on players, coaches and owners. NFL GMs are like salt; the most basic of all cooking components that one notices only it's missing.

Over the years, NFL GMs have been responsible for elevating one franchise after the other, without getting the appreciation that they deserve. However, we cannot bear to keep silent about them any longer, so here is our collection of the best ever NFL GMs.

Best NFL GMs of all time

#5 - John Beake

John Beake began his career as an offensive backfield coach. He remained in that position with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1968 to 1974 and spent a couple of fruitless seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

But it was his career from 1984 to 1998 that made him one of the best NFL GMs the game has ever seen. He spent his entire career as a general manager with the Denver Broncos. Except for 1990 and 1994, he never had a losing record in the NFL. Under his stewardship, the Denver Broncos reached the Super Bowl five times. While the Broncos failed in their attempts to win the Super Bowl on the first three of those trips, they became repeat champions in 1997 and 1998, John Beake's final two seasons with the organization.

#4 - Bill Belichick

Now, Bill Belichick will always be remembered first and foremost as a coach. But any coach who unearths Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, the two greatest players to play quarterback and tight end respectively, deserves to be in the conversation for the greatest NFL GMs as well.

The statistics speak for themselves when evaluating his career as a coach and general manager in the NFL with the New England Patriots. He has been to the Super Bowl nine times and won six of them. Both of which are NFL records. He has won 31 playoff games with the New England Patriots, which is another record.

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But his testament as one of the best NFL GMs comes from the fact that even after Tom Brady left, and last year the Patriots were considered flushed, he has unearthed another newbie in Mac Jones and seems more than likely to make it to the playoffs once again. Whatever happens this season and in the future, Bill Belichick has been as astute a general manager as he has been a coach.

The top 3 NFL GMs of all time

#3 - Bill Polian

NFL Hall of Fame Induction - Bill Polian

It seems there is something in the name Bill that makes great NFL GMs. If Bill Belichick revived the New England Patriots, then another languishing AFC East team reserves a debt of gratitude to Bill Polian. The Buffalo Bills were an organization that had become an afterthought. But as the general manager, he was responsible for them reaching four straight Super Bowls. Even though they won none of them, no other NFL GM has ever matched his record of four straight Super Bowl appearances.

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After his time with the Buffalo Bills, he joined the expansion Carolina Panthers in 1995. While most expansion teams initially struggle in the NFL, the Panthers reached the NFC Championship game in just their second season of existence.

Such achievements cemented his legacy as one of the best NFL GMs the league has ever seen and he became president of the Indianapolis Colts. There, he was responsible for bringing in Peyton Manning and hiring Tony Dungy as coach. He would finally break his Super Bowl duck with the Colts, when they won Super Bowl XLI.

He won the NFL Executive of the Year award six times and is honored by the Buffalo Bills on their Wall of Fame and the Indianapolis Colts in their Ring of Honor.

#2 - Tex Schramm

When the Dallas Cowboys started operations in 1960, of all the NFL GMs available, it was Texas Schramm who came to his eponymous state from the Los Angeles Rams and set about establishing "America's Team." He remained with them until 1989 and revolutionized what it meant to be a general manager.

During his 29 years with the Dallas Cowboys, they had 20 consecutive winning seasons and reached the Super Bowl five times, winning twice. He drafted nine Hall-of-Famers, and in the process demonstrated to NFL GMs how important it was to build through the draft.

#1 - Dick Haley

Dick Haley served as Director of Player Personnel from 1971 to 1990. He stretched the limits to what could be achieved by a talent spotter. In the 1974 draft alone he netted four future hall-of-famers: Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster.

Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the joint-most successful franchise in the Super Bowl era, mostly due to his efforts. They won four Super Bowls under his direction, making him one of the most successful NFL GMs of all time.