Minority owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek are the duo tabbed to lead the Las Vegas Raiders into a new era this offseason.
Brady has the name recognition being dubbed the GOAT quarterback
with his on-field accolades and as a well-paid color commentator/analyst for Fox Sports. Spytek is the fledgling general manager that brings promise but just completed a rocky 2025 campaign.
But as mentioned above with Brady: He’s entrenched as a an analyst and on TV.
And that renders him an occasional presence at team HQ in Henderson and on the sideline at Allegiant Stadium. Unlike owner Mark Davis who, through the misery and fleeting success, remains a constant presence.
Which makes it time for Spytek to lead as the Silver & Blacks GM. Spytek is the day-to-day presence all-thing Raider. And when he and Brady decide on the next head coach, it’ll be the general manager working side-by-side with the newly hired head man. Even if Spytek is a conduit for Brady, it’s the former that will have constant communication with the selected head coach.
But Spytek wasn’t shy about stating the connection he has with Brady and noted that while the minority owner isn’t a daily attendee, the two do indeed talk on a consistent basis.
“I know you’re kind of on this. I talk to him a lot. He’s aware of what we’re doing. I don’t bore him with the mundane transactions or all that, but any big decision, I’ve talked to him about,” Spytek said during his season-ending press conference this past Monday. “Any vision, I’ve talked to him about. He’s a great resource for me. He’s a great partner in this for me. I would be not doing a good job and be a fool if I didn’t talk to him. He’s been supportive of me. He can’t be here every day right now, but I promise you I talk to him a lot, and he and I are on the same page.”
Being on the same page is mission critical. Las Vegas appeared to have several points of contention this past season that culminated in a 3-14 overall record — but the No. 1 overall pick. And it’s those two key decisions: The eventual head coach and top pick in the April’s draft which make it vital for Spytek to be the boots-on-the-ground decision maker. While Brady is slated to have his influence alongside and through Spytek, the future hall of fame quarterback’s day job eats a lot of his availability. And it’s the lack of bandwidth which puts a spotlight on the 45-year-old general manager.
The Raiders are embarking on their head coach search and hire. The team reportedly interviewed Denver Broncos quarterback coach Davis Webb and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. Expect more names on tap as the offseason and playoffs continue.
Las Vegas search will likely be deliberate and take its time. And, despite dysfunction and haphazard track record, the Raiders do have assets that should be attractive for prospective coaching candidates. Namely the top pick along with 10 other selections, significant cap space (over $100 million projected), and core talent in defensive end Maxx Crosby, left tackle Kolton Miller, tight end Brock Bowers, and running ack Ashton Jeanty.
Once a new coach is hired, the team will pivot to who will be taken No. 1 overall and, in parallel, see if any other team is offering a bounty to move into that slot and trade key assets. Considering the Raiders got a lackluster season out of Geno Smith after acquiring the veteran quarterback via trade and Indiana signal caller Fernando Mendoza is lighting up the College Football Playoffs, there’s a notion the Silver & Black aren’t going to deal the top pick and take the Hoosier QB.
Spytek laid out a shared vision he and Brady have putting the Raiders together from here on in.
“Well, it’s about team before self. It’s about discipline. It’s about accountability. It’s about work ethic. Winning is fun, but it comes at a price, and it is required every day, otherwise this league is far too competitive,” the general manager explained. “And he’s felt it, I’ve felt it. You can feel like you’re close, but if you’re off by a couple different things, you can end up at three and 14, and we’ve got to put a process and a system in place that demands the best of our players, of our coaches, of our entire football operations, and really the entire building every day.
“And I’ve been here a year now, I’ve got to know MD (Mark Davis), ownership. I know what the expectations are. I’ve got to know the building, I think, really well, and we’ve got a plan in place, and we’re going to start working on it, and the goal is constant, meticulous improvement so that this organization and the Raider Nation can be proud when they walk into Allegiant Stadium.”
Brady will have his influence from afar. And until he’s there day-to-day — former quarterback and CBS Sports analyst Matt Ryan quit his role as a broadcaster to become the new Atlanta Falcons president of football on Saturday, for example — the Raiders minority owner appears more as resource or sounding board. Which brings us back to Spytek.
He and the head coach will be making key decisions, be the face that runs the place, and have the face-to-face contact and interactions not only with each other, but everyone else involved from executives, coaches, and players.
Spytek hit nail on head during his media session this past Monday about being realistic. He doesn’t expect the new coach to come in like gangbusters and win 10 games out of the gate in 2026 — although that’d be nice and other teams have done it. This is a ground-up rebuild in Las Vegas and tempered expectations are a must.
Hence why the focus should be on Spytek, who’ll revolve around everything Raider on the ground. Not Brady who is being pulled in multiple directions.
