Being in tune with the players you’re supposed to manage is invaluable when building rosters, and Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek revealed his approach. While some might resort to superstition when seeking ways to win, the Raiders’ GM takes a practical approach.
Raiders GM John Spytek ‘Learns’ More About Players by Being on the Sidelines
Putting together winning rosters in the NFL is about more than just perceived skill. Personalities have to gel, and physical abilities have to be balanced with good leadership. Stats, while valuable in their own way, provide limited insight into how well a player will fit into a specific scheme and system.
Therefore, Spytek refuses to leave the sidelines during games, as it helps him learn more about players and gives him the feeling that he also has some “skin in the game.” When asked about his approach in a press conference, he said:
“I don’t like being confined to a press box or to a small area,” said Spytek. “I don’t like sitting during football games. It feels unnatural to me. I like being in the arena. I miss that about my playing days, and so to be on the field and kind of feel some of the emotions and the highs and the lows, they’re fulfilling to me. And I just love being around the guys and having them feel like I got some skin in the game too.”
As the general manager of a football franchise, Spytek has a lot on his plate. While he loves being on the sidelines and part of the atmosphere, it’s still a luxury, not part of his job description.
“I think you can learn a lot about people in those moments, too, and I think hopefully they can learn a lot about me,” he added. “But it feels unnatural to me to sit up top and be away from it, even though sometimes that’s where I end up.”
Assistant GM Brian Stark also mentioned his experience of being part of the action next to the field.
“For me, it was invaluable, especially being my first season here, and the opportunity to, like Spy said, to be invested with the players on game day, to be down there on the sideline and see those sideline interactions, be able to be more involved with them,” Stark said.
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“You get to see who people really are in those intense situations. I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I feel like it allows you to create a different relationship with the players and a better understanding of who they are and what they’re going through,” he added.
The Raiders finished the season with a 3-14 record, reflecting a difficult year on both sides of the ball. According to the PFSN’s Impact Metrics, offensively, they struggled massively, posting a 56.3 OFFi score, which ranked 31st in the league and earned them an F grade.
Defensively, they performed comparatively better with a 70.9 DEFi score, ranking 21st and receiving a C- grade. How Spytek and the company’s approach translates to on-field success in 2026 will be interesting to watch.
