The Las Vegas Raiders cleaned house following a disappointing season, firing head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco. While team co-owner Tom Brady reportedly failed three times in the Raiders coaching search before landing Pete Carroll, the team’s hiring atop football operations is drawing praise.
Raiders general manager John Spytek was hired in January, taking over after a lengthy stint in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers front office. He worked his way up in Tampa Bay from director of player personnel (2016-2020) ti vice president of player personnel (2021-’22) before taking over as assistant general manager in 2023.
Related: NFL rumors reveal QB the Las Vegas Raiders want to trade up for
Before his tenure in Tampa Bay, Spytek’s NFL career began as an operations intern with the Detroit Lions in 2004. He then joined the Philadelphia Eagles, climbing the ladder from intern (2005) to college scouting assistant (2006) and then serving as a college and pro scout from 2007-’09. With stints working for the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos, he’s become well-known around the league. Throughout that time, he’s built a very favorable reputation among his peers.
On the Just Win Podcast, former NFL writer Peter King shared how the new Raiders general manager is viewed around the league and even made a comparison to one of the best executives in the NFL.
“Everybody who knows Spytek thinks that he’s really bright, extremely confident…John Schneider is one of the best general managers in the league and I think Spyte has a lot of tendencies and a lot of characteristics of a John Schneider. Basically knows the game exceedingly well, has worked with really good people…So, I think it’s a logical choice.”
Peter King on Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek
Related: Insider predicts big Las Vegas Raiders offseason move with Maxx Crosby
Schneider, who worked with Carroll on the Seattle Seahawks, is still well-regarded as one of the best general managers in the NFL. He built the “Legion of Boom”, signed quarterback Geno Smith before his breakout season and overhauled the Seahawks roster in recent years to keep it in playoff contention.
While Carroll is likely only going to be the Raiders head coach for a few years, Spytek is the architect of the club’s future. The 44-year-old’s ability to not only evaluate talent but understand how it fits within a system, while working collaboratively with coaches and other executives, bodes well for a cohesive Raiders organization moving forward.
By all accounts, the Raiders general manager is someone perfectly equipped to positively shape the future of the franchise with Brady’s assistance. With team owner Mark Davis also investing more money in the club than ever before, Spytek will also have the resources and support he needs to build a long-term contender.
