The respect for the Detroit Lions’ organization continues to pour out, and it’s not just from media and fans. In a recent survey done by The Athletic that polled “35 high-ranking executives and five coaches,” the Lions front office came out as one of the most well-respected in the entire NFL.

In a staggered voting process (each ranked their top five, with first-place votes receiving 10 points, second-place receiving seven, third-place five, etc.), the Lions finished fifth in voting according to these executives. The only four teams above them were the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“If you asked: Who is the No. 1 GM in the league right now, this minute? It might be him,” one anonymous general manager said, referring to Lions GM Brad Holmes. “I love the demeanor, love what he stands for.”

Holmes has certainly delivered a ton of blue-chip talent to Detroit in just three draft classes, including Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Sam LaPorta, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Jahmyr Gibbs. In particular, his 2023 NFL Draft class was one of the most well-regarded, earning Holmes the “NFL Executive of the Year” from the Pro Football Writers of America and the Executive of the Year by a vote of his peers.

But the praise of Detroit’s front office goes beyond just picking good players. One of the surveyed NFL employees pointed to the Lions’ ability to create a unique culture and identity.

“Detroit has done a nice job building it in their own image, which is unique to everybody else,” another executive told The Athletic.

In the end, it’s remarkable to see the Lions ahead of some NFL franchises who have been the model of success and consistency, like the Packers (No. 6 on the list), Seahawks (7), and Steelers (10).