Spytek and Tom Brady are ex-college teammates and Super Bowl winners with Bucs
The Las Vegas Raiders have made their first big hire of the offseason.
The organization is expected to name John Spytek, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ assistant GM, as their next general manager, per multiple reports.
Spytek takes over for Tom Telesco, who lasted just one season after joining the Raiders in the same GM role he held with the Los Angeles Chargers.
John Spytek, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vice president of player personnel, watches action on the field before a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins Aug. 13, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Spytek, 44, has an extensive track record in NFL front offices, and it all began as a Detroit Lions operations intern in 2004.
He moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles, serving as a college and pro scout from 2005-09, and then to the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos in similar scouting roles before eventually landing in Tampa Bay in 2016.
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He joined the Bucs as their director of player personnel, working alongside GM Jason Licht to build a Tampa Bay squad that won the Super Bowl during the 2021 season.
One of the main reasons for that Vince Lombardi Trophy heading back to Tampa Bay was the Bucs' acquisition of Tom Brady, which Spytek played a role in after their time together as Michigan Wolverines.
That connection continues with the Raiders. Brady is a minority owner of the franchise.
John Spytek, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vice president of player personnel, watches action at Buccaneers rookie minicamp May 14, 2022, at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Fla. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Spytek worked his way through the Bucs’ front office, getting promoted to vice president of player personnel in 2021 and then moving to assistant GM in 2023.
With Spytek expected to assume his role soon, the next big hire will be head coach for the Raiders after the firing of Antonio Pierce one season after the team named him full-time head coach after an interim stint in 2023.
John Spytek, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vice president of player personnel, watches before a preseason game between the Miami Dolphins and the Buccaneers Aug. 13, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Then Spytek will aim to build a roster in desperate need of a franchise quarterback and some more playmakers on both sides of the ball. Las Vegas owns the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and some view the Raiders as a team that may trade up to get a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
