Raiders’ new coach, GM bring shared vision: ‘We’re going to let it rip’
New Raiders coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek might be at different stages of their careers, but they had a common message at their introductory news conference Monday at the team’s Henderson headquarters.
They are ready to join forces to help restore the franchise to glory.
“This is the Raiders,” said Spytek, who had been pursued by several teams over the past few years before accepting his first general manager position. “It’s an iconic franchise with a new and exciting ownership group. There’s an energy to this place that really jumped off the screen in my interview. Could I have had another job? Maybe. But this is the one I wanted, and I told them that in the interview. I’m really grateful to be here.”
Spytek, 44, said there are certain teams that just make the NFL better when they are successful. He put the Raiders at the top of that list.
He believes being paired with Carroll will help him get the team back on track. Carroll, 73, will become the oldest coach in NFL history when he appears on the Raiders’ sideline for the first time. But he brings a proven track record as one of three football coaches to win a college national championship and a Super Bowl.
“(Spytek’s) background, his mentality, his devotion to character and football and the game and having respect for what it takes to make this thing strong and right has just hit me right in my heart,” Carroll said to an audience that included Raiders players Maxx Crosby and Kolton Miller. “I’m thrilled about sharing the years and the experience with the energy and the juice that he brings. It’s going to work out great.”
Turning the page
The Raiders hope Spytek and Carroll turn out better than their last few hires. The organization has been stuck in neutral since former coach Jon Gruden resigned in 2021 after emails he wrote containing racist, misogynistic and antigay language were leaked.
Owner Mark Davis hired coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler in 2022. The two lasted less than two seasons before being fired Oct. 31, 2023.
Antonio Pierce, who replaced McDaniels as the Raiders’ interim coach, was given the opportunity to lead the franchise in 2024 along with general manager Tom Telesco.
The two were fired this month after going 4-13 in their first full season in charge.
“Last season didn’t go as well as we had hoped,” Davis said. “Three teams in our division made the playoffs, and the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the third time in a row. We just felt it was time for a change.
“We’ve been trying to get it right since (Gruden’s resignation). I’m really excited about (the hires) and hopeful this won’t be an annual thing.”
Davis hinted that Spytek was his top choice to be general manager from the beginning. He said Carroll emerged during the interview process.
“He’s a football guy who loves football, and he wanted to be a Raider,” Davis said.
Why return?
It was notable Carroll wanted to coach again.
He resigned as coach of the Seahawks after the 2023 season following a successful 14-year run that included 10 playoff appearances, five division titles, a victory in Super Bowl 48 and an appearance in Super Bowl 49.
Carroll enjoyed his time away from the game. He taught a class at USC. He watched his son and his many protégés coach. He saw his grandson play high school football.
Deep down, however, he still had the itch to coach.
“It’s never been about accomplishments,” said Carroll, who got a supportive cheer at one point from former Seahawks and Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch. “I love this challenge. I love the game, and I love being part of it. It’s never about accomplishing things to say you were worthy. It’s what you’re going to do next that counts. What’s the next thing up?”
Spytek shares a similar passion and outlook, though his career is still getting started. He’s worked his way up the ranks to get to this point, spending time in the front offices of the Broncos, Eagles, Browns, Broncos and Buccaneers.
He’s been with Tampa Bay the previous nine seasons, spending the past two as the team’s assistant general manager. He helped current Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, whom he played with at Michigan, lead the Buccaneers to victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 in 2021.
“I can’t express how grateful and excited I am to be here and to be given this opportunity to be a part of an iconic, cornerstone franchise like this,” Spytek said. “A dream come true for me with many dreams still out there to be accomplished. This isn’t the final goal, but it was certainly one of my career goals.”
Getting started
The Raiders’ new duo has hit the ground running.
Spytek said the three days he and Carroll have been in contact since accepting their new jobs have felt like 10 because of how much they’re working through already.
The two are on the same page when it comes to building a team that is as big on character as talent. It’s part of the culture they want to build. Carroll said it’s important the two use their shared vision to guide their decisions.
“We’re sharing everything,” Carroll said. “We’re collaborating to the nth degree, and we’re going to do this.
“We’re partners in this.”
Their chemistry showed during a brief exchange Monday after Spytek acknowledged Bill Young, his coach at Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Young is still coaching and winning state titles at age 75 because he “just can’t give it up,” Spytek said.
“Why are you looking at me (when you say that)?” Carroll said, leading to a big laugh.
The two were all smiles Monday, but they plan to get to work fast. The clock is ticking to make the Raiders a better football team before the start of next season.
“It’s certainly a challenge, but it’s the job and it’s the one I’ve always wanted,” Spytek said. “Is it going to be a lot? Sure. But I’ve been preparing for this my whole life, and we’ve got a great opportunity to get a bunch of things set up the right way here.”
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
