Raiders to hire Buccaneers executive with Brady ties as next GM
Tom Brady’s makeover of the Raiders continued Wednesday. The team is expected to hire John Spytek as its next general manager, according to NFL sources.
Spytek, 44, has been the Buccaneers’ assistant general manager the last two years. He’s been in the Tampa Bay front office for nine seasons and served as the team’s director of player personnel when Brady was the franchise’s quarterback from 2020-22. The two were both part of the Buccaneers’ win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55.
Spytek’s history with Brady goes back even further. The two were college teammates at Michigan.
The Raiders’ decision to hire Spytek to replace Tom Telesco, who was fired Jan. 9 after going 4-13 his first season in charge, is additional proof of Brady’s growing influence in the organization.
Brady helped convince owner Mark Davis to wipe the slate clean by getting rid of Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce. Now, the Raiders’ next big move is bringing in a general manager that Brady has personal experience with.
Timing makes sense
The team focused its attention on hiring Spytek after being turned down by Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was announced as the Bears’ next coach Tuesday.
The Raiders were prepared to move fast on Johnson after Detroit’s loss to the Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs Saturday. His decision to go to Chicago forced the team to pivot.
Spytek is now expected to help the Raiders hire their next coach. He can also get the Raiders’ draft preparation started given the Senior Bowl, an annual college all-star game featuring top prospects, takes place Feb. 1 in Mobile, Alabama.
Coaching search
Former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is considered one of the Raiders’ top coaching candidates with Johnson off the board.
Carroll, 73, interviewed in-person for the job Jan. 13. He was off the sidelines last season but has had success at numerous stops in his career.
He won a national championship at USC during his nine-year tenure there and led Seattle to victory in Super Bowl 48. The Seahawks beat the Broncos to win the title when Spytek was a Denver scout.
Other candidates the Raiders have interviewed include former Jets coach Robert Saleh, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and former Panthers and Commanders coach Ron Rivera.
The team also talked to Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, but he was named the Jets coach Wednesday.
The Raiders could expand their search with Spytek on board, though there is no guarantee that happens.
One name that may enter the mix is Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who helped Tampa Bay score the fourth-most points in the NFL this season.
Coen was considered one of the top candidates for the Jaguars job before pulling his name out of consideration Wednesday. He is expected to sign a lucrative extension to remain with the Buccaneers.
More on Spytek
Tampa Bay has been one of the NFL’s most successful organizations during Spytek’s time with the team. The Buccaneers, in addition to their victory in Super Bowl 55, have won four consecutive NFC South titles and made the playoffs five years in a row.
The team didn’t even fall off when Brady retired following the 2022 campaign. Tampa Bay stayed competitive by signing quarterback Baker Mayfield in free agency. Mayfield has thrown for 69 touchdowns the last two seasons and led the club to a 19-15 record.
Spytek, prior to joining the Buccaneers, was with the Broncos from 2013-15. Denver won 37 regular-season games during his time with the team as well as Super Bowl 50.
He was also the director of college scouting for the Browns from 2010-12.
Spytek began his career as an Eagles intern in 2005 and spent five years with the franchise. Some of the coaches and general managers he’s worked with include Andy Reid, John Harbaugh, John Elway, Mike Holmgren, Gary Kubiak, Bruce Arians, Jason Licht and Todd Bowles.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
