Beware: Raiders May Poach John Spytek
January 9th, 2025
Dot-connecting.
While most Bucs fans are peeking between their fingers hoping Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen isn’t plucked by another coach-needy team, a key member of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s staff has been floated as a target for a team that as of this afternoon is looking for a new general manager.
Today in Las Vegas, Tom Brady Mark Davis canned Raiders general manager Tom Telesco, who is one of the better talent evaluators in the game.
If you listen to a lot of SiriusXM NFL Radio and/or football podcasts like Joe does, many NFL insiders believe Brady is either calling the shots for the Raiders’ football operations or is “advising” Davis.
Of course, last year Brady became a minority owner of the Raiders.
This leads CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones to speculate (?) Brady has his sights aimed at Bucs assistant general manager John Spytek. Their connections go back all the way to Ann Arbor when they were teammates at Michigan.
@jjones9: The Raiders will have plenty of qualified candidates for their now vacant GM job. One name to keep an eye on: Bucs AGM John Spytek.
He’s been a critical part of Jason Licht’s staff in Tampa and played with Tom Brady at Michigan. He’s also interviewing with the Titans.
This makes sense. A huge reason Brady came to the Bucs in the spring of 2020 was the talent already on the roster. Spytek was a key person securing that talent.
And in his three seasons with the Bucs, Brady saw first-hand how his former Wolverine brother-in-arms went about his business.
Brady has called a handful of Bucs games in person this yar and has seen how that talent has developed. And knowing Brady (just a little), Joe is confident Brady has studied lots of Bucs film as he prepped for games.
It would stink to lose either Mike Greenberg or Spytek, Licht’s valued and trusted lieutenants. Both hold the title of “assistant general manager.” But sooner or later one or both will run his own NFL franchise.
Joe can think of a whole lot of worse places to live and work than booming Las Vegas.
January 9th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
One more year…..one more year…….one more year…….
January 9th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
If they want to leave, can’t stop them. So let them go. Find replacements. Licht knows talent, and he will draw it in. It’s a team, not a one man operation.
The Raiders are going to continue to be awful. Brady was a great QB. But so was Montana and he sicked as an announcer. Brady can try to be super GM. Like Jordan. And he sucked at that. So there is no guarantee in the dry desert of LV.
Coen has done a great job, but he also did not do it alone. If he wants Jax, let it be. That’s not a great place. Not nearly as nice as Tampa. Good owner, but the next three years are going to be a nightmare with the stadium under renovation.
Tampa has premier owners, and it’s a great place to live and raise a family. If these guys bide their time, Bowles and Licht will finish out and the jobs here will be open.
The grass is not always greener when you just chase the green.
January 9th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
Trade Bowels to the Raiders for a steak and beer!
January 9th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
Was just thinking this earlier. Brady knows
January 9th, 2025 at 7:13 pm
I would love to see Ronde Barber step into an assistant GM position if Spytek leaves.
I have much love and respect for #20.
January 9th, 2025 at 7:25 pm
That’s a tough job going against the Chiefs, Chargers, and an up and coming Broncos team
January 9th, 2025 at 8:01 pm
I’d rather lose Greenberg than Spytek.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
@ModHairKen… as far Licht being a GM savant, I don’t necessarily believe that. Greenberg and Spytek has been a HUGE part of this operation…though you can also say they are from perfect if they have anything to do with some of our draft picks.
We really don’t know how good Licht is until we lose both these guys and see what we this franchise looks like 3 years from now. Licht has had 10 years as GM, it would be nice for him to take a different role in the organization and hand it off to one of these young guys to run. Front offices are so much more important than players and coaches, they are foundational, and they are clearly the long-term solution for sustaining success.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:48 pm
Mike Greenberg is more important to the Bucs.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
Tough call… Spytek is more involved in player selection and Greenberg more involved in financials / contracts, is that correct? That would make me want to keep Spytek more if I had to choose just one, but they’ll prob both leave at some point.
We all thought it was going to be a big hit when Jon Robinson left too, and that turned out okay.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:56 pm
I hope spy tech goes. He deserves it, and I trust Jason to find a suitable replacement.
January 9th, 2025 at 9:02 pm
Shelton Quarles and/or Mike Biehl are next in line to move up if Spytec takes a new job elsewhere.
January 9th, 2025 at 9:02 pm
Good point unbelievable! Robinson left and how did that work out? Is he working anywhere now? Maybe bring him back if one or both leave. I’d rather keep Spytek. He seems more valuable with his scouting.
January 9th, 2025 at 9:05 pm
I think Brady is going to stick it to us and take Spytek and Coen and likely Godwin with it. I truly feel he is spiteful towards Tampa and bitter they didn’t allow him to go to Miami. Could be wrong but felt this was coming for quite some time.
January 9th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
My life experience has shown me one thing. The man at the top always gets the credit whether he deserves it in people’s OPINIONS or not.
Not just in the NFL but in virtually every walk of life!
At the end it gets down to show me the money or in sports the WINS!
Now we have people questioning Jason Licht’s ability and that Spytek and Coen deserve more credit?
January 9th, 2025 at 10:17 pm
I hate to say it, but it’s about time people in the front office are looked at for promotions. I hate to lose Spytek but I hate it more when good, deserving people get passed over for career advancement. Our front office and talent scouting people have been top notch, hope for good things for all of them.
January 10th, 2025 at 4:05 am
spytek probably bounces first…this year we prolly lose one…
losing both at once is a quiet behind the scenes disaster
January 10th, 2025 at 4:32 am
Thinking Raiders are looking our Bucs over probably per Brady, Spytek is the first. Hate to see him go, but it’s a great career move for him. Like others have commented, Jason will choose well for replacements. I am still thinking that Deion and his son will be at the Raiders too.
Pickgrin Says: “Shelton Quarles and/or Mike Biehl are next in line to move up if Spytec takes a new job elsewhere.” Great point!
January 10th, 2025 at 9:00 am
I just hope that we can keep most of our scouts and talent evaluators.