Jason Licht Ties For Second In Midseason Executive Of The Year Vote
November 8th, 2025
The list of NFL franchises (and general managers) with four consecutive division titles following a Super Bowl victory is extremely short.
The Bucs are on that list (2020-2024). And it’s a microscopic group if you only include teams like the Bucs with multiple starting quarterbacks over the five-season stretch.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht knows how to build a roster and a staff.
He’s a damn good GM, but is he the best in the NFL?
Albert Breer of SI.com set out to identify the top-dog GM via midseason survey of NFL general managers, VPs, directors of player personnel and directors of pro scouting.
Licht ranked tied for second with Colts GM Chris Ballard, who finally found a quarterback.
Executive of the Year: John Schneider, Seahawks (23)
Also receiving votes: Colts GM Chris Ballard (5), Buccaneers GM Jason Licht (5), Eagles GM Howie Roseman (4), Lions GM Brad Holmes (1), Chargers GM Joe Hortiz (1), Broncos GM George Paton (1), Rams GM Les Snead (1), Patriots EVP of player personnel Eliot Wolf (1)
Schneider has elicited a ton of respect from his peers over the years, and this is a strong indication of that. That said, he also thoroughly deserves this one. The foundation of this team was built, in part, through the return he received for Russell Wilson. And as guys such as Smith-Njigba, Charles Cross, Devon Witherspoon and Byron Murphy came aboard, Schneider effectively replaced Wilson with Geno Smith, then added Sam Darnold. Every GM who’s been around for as long as Schneider has (16 seasons) has his ups and downs. But it’s fair to say that, of late, the Seahawks’ long-time boss has been on quite the heater.
Joe finds this poll annoying because the Bucs beat the Seahawks in Seattle.
Regardless, Licht is in solid position to win Executive of the Year for the first time — if the Bucs can continue to win. And Haason Reddick and Chris Godwin contributing to those wins would go a long way toward helping Licht eat this prestigious “W.”
November 8th, 2025 at 3:45 pm
I find this poll annoying for exactly the same reason.
November 8th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
Second place only means you are the first loser… And, these ‘mid-season’ rankings don’t mean a thang, anyways! Hahahah LoL.
November 8th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
BuT hE dIdNt MaKe A tRaDe…. Lol
November 8th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
It is a shame that this site is so liberal left where you can’t say what is on your mimd
November 8th, 2025 at 4:12 pm
That’s not what they were looking at, or thinking of at the time, when submitting their answers… Head-to-head matchups against other teams during the season. It’s not what I would’ve thought about either, when voting. Nobody’s going to remember about every game with who played ‘when and where’ up to this point of the season. They were just asked to give an opinion, that happened to be an overwhelming popular choice, by a landslide. It’s definitely been one of THE BEST FO’s over the past 25-YEARS, really!!!! Since, Holmgren and one of my all-time’ favorite RB’s (Kentucky Mr. Football, from Boone County to Alabama’s Gene Stallings, to NFL-MVP), Shaun Alexander.
November 8th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
Obviously Jason Licht is a great GM & the Bucs are better because of him.
It appears obvious that many others around the NFL feel the same.
Does it also appear obvious that someone calling for Licht’s job is obviously…?
November 8th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
Give me a break, are we going to have water boy of the year awards now. The only thing that matters is W-L record and SBs. Jason didn’t make a trade, so right now he sux. lol.
November 8th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
Luke Goedeke confirmed in the game on Sunday, per Greg Auman.
November 8th, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Name me one other GM that has drafted 14 starters in the last 4 drafts….
I’ll wait….
November 8th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Yeah Licht deserves to win in the next year or 2 here.
Schneider, fine, good job but he had to replace Wilson and Geno… not the GOAT. Wasn’t Witherspoon a top 5 pick? JL hasn’t had one of those in awhile.
Signing Darnold off a 14-2 record is not in the same universe as signing Baker.
We need Barton, Egbuka, BMo, Parrish, Roberts, Tykee balling down the stretch. 2-1 next 3 please and some of those votes may shift.
November 8th, 2025 at 4:56 pm
Still don’t know why he hasn’t gone after a WR at trade deadline. We are handicapped not having a big WR, both Godwin and Evans have some size. Toughness is another issue, Godwin before injury really went over the middle and owned those short passes. Emeka is more of a deep guy and Johnson is too small to be a guy to catch balls in tight spaces. I would do something out of the box like play Culp in motion or slot so there is a bigger body that can run down the seams. I like Otton’s toughness but he doesn’t have speed and he doesn’t get much separation. Give it a try, Bucs are a passing team and having one large body that can run is better than a small WR corp.
November 8th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
The way Jason has built thru the draft and beat the dead money phase of the retool on the fly makes me rank him #1.
Roseman is probably better at being aggressive but I’ll take Licht.
November 8th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
I think Reddick’s best days are behind him. Don’t see him playing any better when he comes off his injuries. It was a low risk signing, 14 mill is chump change even for an average edge rusher. Nelly is my new starter, and since I don’t see Reddick being resigned, we got to give Braz more reps to see if he’ll ever be anything.
November 8th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
11 of our 22 starters are on rookie contracts, and we’re one of the best 5 teams in the NFL. That’s all JL
November 8th, 2025 at 6:24 pm
The reason that Licht has peaked over the past 5 years is because he is working with a head coach that is willing to develop and play later round draft picks and even undrafted players. He never would have worked out with Gruden who wanted vets on the field, which stunted young player development and even Arians was that way to a lesser degree.
November 8th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Braswell is garbage