John Spytek, the newly appointed general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, finds himself in an enviable position for a first-time GM. He benefits from the guidance of Super Bowl-winning head coach Pete Carroll and the invaluable expertise of NFL legend and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.
At his inaugural NFL Combine in his new role, Spytek consistently displayed a willingness to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of others. While assuming leadership of a historic NFL franchise is a significant undertaking, Spytek has avoided any pretense of possessing all the answers from the outset. This humility has been a consistent aspect of his approach.
Fortunately for Spytek and the future of the Raiders organization, he has the unique opportunity to consult with Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. While the Raiders face numerous roster needs, particularly at the quarterback position, Spytek has emphasized the significant value of having experienced staff members to facilitate the team’s progress.
Las Vegas Raiders GM: “I would be a special kind of idiot if I didn’t use Tom Brady”
“I said the other day that I would be a special kind of idiot if I didn’t use Tom [Brady] as a sounding board for certain places,” Spytek said to Peter Schrager at the NFL Combine. “Coach Carroll again obviously has got such an amazing amount of experience and success in this league and really everywhere he’s ever been… It’s been an awesome experience getting to know all those guys and what a resource for me and my first go around with this.”
With the Raiders actively seeking a quarterback, whether through the NFL Draft or free agency, Brady’s expertise becomes an invaluable asset. Brady’s extensive experience and understanding of winning strategies, which led to multiple Super Bowl victories, can provide unique insights.
Brady has yet to land a big fish despite his possibly controversial efforts. Brady may or may not have hosted a formerly disgruntled Los Angeles Rams quarterback at his ski resort chalet in Montana, which prompted a short-lived media dust-up, calling for a tampering investigation. Brady was also used in the attempt to secure Ben Johnson as head coach.
Stafford found a compromise with the Rams and Johnson was hired by the Chicago Bears.