Image Source: Charles Robinson
Key Takeaways:
- The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 season was marked by internal conflicts and a disjointed vision, leading to the firing of head coach Pete Carroll.
- The team’s minority owner, Tom Brady, has a significant influence on the franchise, but his operational involvement is limited to a "close collaboration" with general manager John Spytek.
- Spytek will be the primary decision-maker in the team’s rebuilding process, including finding a new head coach and making roster moves.
- The Raiders are expected to trade defensive end Maxx Crosby and other veterans, and will likely draft a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.
- Spytek’s relationship with Brady is crucial to the team’s success, but it is unclear how much day-to-day influence Brady will have on the franchise.
Introduction to the Raiders’ 2025 Season
The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 season was a disaster, marked by internal conflicts and a disjointed vision. As one longtime league executive familiar with the team’s owner, Mark Davis, and head coach, Pete Carroll, noted, "Very different visions… I would imagine it’s going to be the same [Raiders] s***." The team’s 2-5 start, including a gutting 31-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, was a harbinger of the problems to come. As the team entered its bye week, word began to spread through NFL coaching and front-office circles that Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly were at odds. Kelly’s scheme and play-calling were not fitting with veteran quarterback Geno Smith, and philosophical differences were festering inside the coaching staff.
The Raiders’ Disjointed Vision
The Raiders’ signing of 33-year-old wideout Tyler Lockett, who had been released by the Tennessee Titans, was a relatively innocuous move that ended up being a harbinger of a more fundamental problem. The move fit Carroll’s win-now mindset, but it ran contrary to the wider vantage of general manager John Spytek, who had espoused beliefs of building, developing, and playing young talent. As the team’s season continued to spiral out of control, it became clear that the Raiders’ mission was unclear, and that the three fundamental people in the organization – Davis, Carroll, and Brady – were on their own separate pages.
The Firing of Pete Carroll
By January 5, the Raiders had fired Carroll, and the team was left to pick up the pieces. The firing was a result of the team’s 3-14 season, and it marked a new era for the franchise. As Spytek noted, "The accountability should start and stop with me. That needs to be said." The team’s next move will be to find a new head coach, and Spytek will be the primary decision-maker in that process. As he said, "We’re looking for someone to build this the right way and not think that we’ve got to produce 10 wins or whatever next [season]."
Tom Brady’s Involvement with the Raiders
Brady’s involvement with the Raiders is a subject of fascination and scrutiny in the league. While he is a minority owner, his operational involvement is limited to a "close collaboration" with Spytek. As Spytek noted, "I think people sometimes misunderstand mine and Tom’s relationship… We see football similar. We don’t see it the same. We have plenty of discussions and disagreements and I’m not afraid to tell him that." Brady’s influence on the team is significant, but it is unclear how much day-to-day influence he will have on the franchise. As Spytek said, "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 [it]. Any vision, I’ve talked to him about [it]."
The Future of the Raiders
The Raiders’ future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Spytek will be the primary decision-maker in the team’s rebuilding process. As he said, "Winning is fun. But it comes at a price. And it is required every day." The team’s next move will be to find a new head coach, and Spytek will be the one to lead that process. As he noted, "I want to turn that over to the coach… We’re going to have a lot of great conversations about who, why, where – there’s going to be a lot of great football conversations." The Raiders’ success will depend on Spytek’s ability to make the right decisions, and to work effectively with Brady and Davis. As one league executive noted, "It’s hard to know until we see where this goes now that the team has moved on from Carroll."
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/as-the-raiders-reboot-its-gm-john-spytek–not-tom-brady-or-mark-davis–who-should-be-the-focus-235419428.html