The Las Vegas Raiders are going through a metamorphosis this offseason. Tom Brady taking over as minority owner has given the franchise some much-needed urgency, leading to a frenzy of moves this summer.
The appointment of head coach Pete Carroll and a blockbuster trade for Geno Smith as the new starting quarterback may have been the biggest moves of the offseason. But an underrated move was the addition of John Spytek as the new general manager. After first working together with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, how are the two decision-makers functioning in Sin City?
John Spytek Speaks on Working With Tom Brady
Before he was named the general manager of the Raiders, Spytek paid his dues throughout the league. In recent years, he became a straightforward recipe for success. For both the Denver Broncos and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his presence led to winning results.
Joining the Broncos as a Southwest area scout, he climbed the ladder as Denver secured Super Bowl 50. A few years later, he joined Tampa Bay as director of player personnel before being promoted to vice president of the same department.
In that time, he oversaw the tenure of Tom Brady with the Buccaneers, developing a relationship with him that has carried over to Las Vegas. Speaking on the 3&out podcast with John Middlekauff, Spytek described the nature of their current relationship.
He made clear that the extent of his friendship with the Raiders’ minority owner did not affect his appointment as GM. The mindset was clear from Day 1, right after his interview for the role.
“I’m not in this job because I’m his friend. … I could help him and coach build something that our fanbase deserves, that our fanbase deserves, which is a winner. We’ve got a job to do here, and that’s the most important thing that matters,” he said.
“I’m not in this job because I’m his friend.”@Raiders GM John Spytek talks to @JohnMiddlekauff about his relationship with Tom Brady and why it’s all about building a winner in Vegas. pic.twitter.com/qzc8mnVdvZ
— 3&OUT with John Middlekauff (@3andout_pod) June 7, 2025
Ultimately, for a player who won the most Super Bowl rings in NFL history, the expectation is winning — forming the foundation for the offseason moves in Las Vegas. “We’ve got to win football games,” he said.
An extension for Maxx Crosby, alongside some excellent moves both in free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, has given the Raiders a far more competitive roster than the squad that won just five games in 2024.
As Spytek made clear, the ultimate verdict on their work will be in the record column. But for now, the owner, general manager and head coach trio are clearly on the same page.