The Las Vegas Raiders were heavily invested in pursuing Ben Johnson as their next head coach, with widespread speculation suggesting the team was prepared to do whatever it took to secure the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.
However, Johnson ultimately chose to join the Chicago Bears, reportedly due to the Raiders’ lack of a reliable quarterback, which presented a significant obstacle. Initially, the team seemed likely to hire Washington Commanders assistant general manager and former Lions executive Lance Newmark, intending to pair him with Johnson.
With Johnson out of the picture, the Raiders have shifted their focus away from Newmark. Instead, they are now eyeing Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek, according to a report from Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur of The Athletic.
“Spytek was part of the front office that brought Brady to Tampa Bay in 2020 and was his college teammate at Michigan. He’s now believed to be the front-runner at GM, according to league sources,” Reed and Tafur wrote in a January 20 article.
While Spytek’s connection to Tom Brady is noteworthy, his extensive resume also makes him a strong candidate. Over the years, he has held front-office roles with the Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Denver Broncos. Though he would be stepping into a general manager role for the first time, few candidates can match the breadth of his experience.
Johnson Turned Down Raiders Because of QB
The Raiders pulling off an interview with Johnson was surprising enough, let alone making it as far in the process as they did. The team hasn’t won a playoff game in 20 years and has significant uncertainty at quarterback.
For a while, it seemed like the Raiders might pull off a miracle, but in the end, their quarterback situation proved to be too big of an obstacle.
“According to league sources, the uncertainty at quarterback played a significant role in Johnson’s decision to look elsewhere,” Reed and Tafur wrote. “[Caleb] Williams, last year’s No. 1 draft pick, had a promising rookie season with the Bears and shows the potential to become a top NFL quarterback. That’s something the Raiders simply couldn’t compete with.”
While it remains to be seen how good Williams will be, his upside far exceeds that of Aidan O’Connell, making it easy to understand why Johnson found the Bears’ situation more appealing.
Will Pete Carroll Be the Next Raiders Head Coach?
After missing out on their top choice, the Raiders are now shifting their focus. Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has emerged as the rumored favorite for the job.
Carroll boasts an impressive 170-120 record as a head coach, including a Super Bowl championship. During his 14 seasons with the Seahawks, he only missed the playoffs four times, solidifying his status as one of the best head coaches of the 2000s. However, he’s set to turn 74 during the 2025 season, which would make him the oldest head coach in NFL history.
While Carroll is in excellent shape for his age, it raises questions about entrusting a full rebuild to someone at this stage of his career. Adding to the challenge is the fact that the Raiders’ job isn’t particularly appealing right now, especially with it being clear that Johnson was their top target. If Carroll ends up being their best realistic option, they could certainly do worse.
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