The Las Vegas Raiders have made their first big hire of the offseason.
The organization is expected to name Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek as its next general manager, according to multiple reports.
Spytek succeeds Tom Telesco, who lasted just one season after joining the Raiders in the same general manager role he held with the Los Angeles Chargers.
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John Spytek, vice president of player personnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, watches the action on the field before a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on August 13, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Spytek, 44, has extensive experience in NFL front offices, and it all started as an operations intern for the Detroit Lions in 2004.
He then moved to the Philadelphia Eagles, serving as a college and pro scout from 2005 to 2009, then to the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos in similar scouting roles before landing in Tampa Bay in 2016.
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He joined the Bucs as director of player personnel, working alongside general manager Jason Licht to build a Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay team during the 2021 season.
One of the main reasons for the Vince Lombardi Trophy’s return to Tampa Bay was the Bucs’ acquisition of Tom Brady, which Spytek played a role in after their time together as the Michigan Wolverines.
That connection continues with the Raiders. Brady is a minority owner of the franchise.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vice president of player personnel John Spytek watches the action at the Buccaneers rookie minicamp on May 14, 2022, at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Spytek worked his way through the Bucs front office, being promoted to vice president of player personnel in 2021 and then becoming assistant general manager in 2023.
With Spytek expected to assume his role soon, the next big hire will be the Raiders’ head coach after Antonio Pierce was fired one season after the team named him full-time head coach following an interim stint in 2023.
John Spytek, vice president of player personnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, looks on before a preseason game between the Miami Dolphins and the Buccaneers on August 13, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Next, Spytek will aim to build a roster in desperate need of a franchise quarterback and a few more playmakers on both sides of the ball. Las Vegas has the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and some view the Raiders as a team that could trade for a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.
