Ties with Tom Brady helps
Here are some thoughts on the hiring of the 44-year-old Spytek.
He was the favorite all along:
This isn’t a shocking hire. Spytek has been considered the favorite since early in the process. He likely would have been the choice that the Raiders were able to hire Ben Johnson as coach. The Raiders’ talked to give other candidates for the job, Jon-Eric Sullivan, Sheldon White, Brandon Brown, Chad Alexander and Lance Newmark. But Spytek was the guy all along.
Tom Brady factor:
Brady is a big reason why Spytek was the favorite and, ultimately, was the choice. They overlapped as players at Michigan in 1999 and were together in Tampa Bay and won a Super Bowl together. There was a repot that some GM candidate could be concerned by Brady’s role in the front office. That clearly wasn’t the case with Spytek. Brady will have a big role as a voice in this franchise and Spytek is clearly comfortable with that.
.@TomBrady on being a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders:
“Being involved with the Raiders gives me an opportunity to be involved with football for the rest of my life.” pic.twitter.com/Pzo2c3V3tH
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 22, 2025
Who’s the coach?
This is the next big question. The Raiders have reportedly interviewed or requested to interview eight candidates. Two are off the board as Johnson and now Aaron Glenn, who was hired by the Jets on Wednesday, secured other jobs. Here are other current known candidates:
- Pete Carroll
- Vance Joseph
- Todd Monken
- Ron Rivera
- Robert Salah
- Steve Spagnuolo
There has been speculation that Carroll, a Super Bowl-winning coach with the Seattle Seahawks, is the favorite. Spytek’s hiring likely doesn’t change that. But if we could see the Raiders expand the search and interview other candidates. Keep an eye on Monken, who is the only known candidate, not to interview yet. He worked with Spytek in Tampa Bay and he coached Raiders’ star tight end Brock Bowers at Georgia.
Not Coen:
Early in the process, it seemed like a Spytek-Liam Coen combo could attract the Raiders. But Wednesday, Coen, a favorite to land the head-coaching job in Jacksonville, decided to stay in Tampa Bay as its offensive coordinator.
Well respected:
Spytek is known for being a smart, strong evaluator with a measured approach and a strong scouting eye.
Rookie in gig:
Spytek is the fifth general manager hired in the 13-year Mark Davis era. Spytek is a first-time general manager as were Reggie McKenzie, Mike Mayock and Dave Ziegler. Telesco was a second time GM hire.
Davis familiarity:
Davis interviewed Spytek in 2022 when Ziegler was hired. So, Spytek also had a feel for him in addition to his relationship with Brady.
Mayfield model?
Once the head coach is hired, the biggest question of the offseason will be who the Raiders’ quarterback will be in 2025. Spytek came from Tampa Bay when journeyman Baker Mayfield became a winning quarterback who the team extended with a big deal in 2024. That could perhaps make Spytek comfortable with going with a journeyman type quarterback such as Sam Darnold or Justin Fields in free agency,
Early free agency thoughts:
Often, when new general managers get a job, they could look at players from their former team in free agency. Among the Tampa Bay free agents who could interest Spytek in Las Vegas include wide receivers Chris Goodwin and Sterling Shepard, safety Mike Edwards and quarterback Kyle Trask.