Now Playing: The Spytek x Brady Show
I feel sorry for Pete Carroll. Didn't do great, but also didn't stand a chance.
Now we're told that "GM John Spytek will lead all football operations in close collaboration with Tom Brady."
Enjoy your autonomy and operations control, John! I'm sure Mark and Tom will give you tons of leeway.
Draft 2026, here we come!
What do you all think?
posted by Raider Take at 8:41 AM
26 Comments:
In terms of guys with HC experience: Stefanski was fired by Browns he would be a possible choice also Mike McDaniels if Miami lets him go abd Brian Flores. Then there are a bunch of assitants like Minter, Kubiak, LeFleur etc. Whoever it is they need to be able to grow and nuture Mendoza. Sandy
That was fast! Did the Raiders finally do something right? Firing another HC after one year is never a good direction but Pete Carroll didn't stand a chance to retain his job. Too many obstacles, including his age and short-term contract. But I was stunned at his unwavering approach that buried his ability to be successful. That's on Pete. I guess look no further than outcast Chip Kelly who had no problem immediately finding new work despite his abrupt firing. Folks in the marketplace understood it was mostly Carroll, not Kelly driving the Raiders failure on offense (and defense).
But I also agree with those who believe Carroll was doomed from the start. I honestly don't know what it will take for a HC to be successful in the Raiders organization. We've seen too many failures and no successes under current ownership, spanning several GMs.
These aren't one-offs. And most former Raiders coaches are better than their records with the Raiders, including Pete Carroll. Josh McDaniels is hitting out of the park as OC in NE, like he never left. He's had tremendous success with two rookie QBs in NE, i.e., before and after his stint as Raiders HC (Raiders could use someone with that ability right now!). Even Dennis Allen looks impressive as Bears DC.
Will the Raiders finally figure it out, or do they stand to fall deeper into the rabbit hole of dysfunction with the next iteration of the Tom Brady show?
The Raiders have defied all efforts by the NFL at parity, they even defy the law of averages. After the 2025 debacle, why should we believe Tom Brady can change that?
Raiders are a classic case of "can't see the forest for the trees."
The thing about Pete, if he wasn't the right guy for this particular job, or wasn't up to snuff as a coach, yes, that's on him - but it's more on leadership for hiring another underperforming coach who's DOA. Patriots got Vrabel, Bears got Johnson, but yet again Raiders were way off the mark in their hiring and decision making. Not long ago, in our division, Chargers hired a former Super Bowl coach, Broncos hired another Super Bowl coach, then we hire a Super Bowl coach and it's a disaster. Ultimately, this isn't about McDaniels, Carroll, etc. It's about leadership failure.
Agreed. The overarching theme is leadership. The Raiders dysfunction is deep. Just last year they fired a GM after one decent season. Who does that?
As for Carroll being a SB winning coach, he's at least a few years removed from that, just as Jon Gruden was when the Raiders brought him back. Both coaches had left coaching when the Raiders hired them.
My biggest complaint(s) has been a lack of due diligence, and that includes the new Brady era. Did Davis even reach out to Jim Harbough before he hired Antonio Pierce, or Mike Vrabel before he hired 74 year-old Pete Carroll, etc.?
It just seems like the Raiders (Mark Davis) couldn't be so remiss and so stupid, even if he tried. Yet here we are.
Mark Davis's media statement was a deferral to Tom Brady, who works for FOX. Spytek is Brady's puppet. And if Brady is in full charge, are we now doubling down on the "Patriot Way?" We've already seen what that looks like without Bill Belichick... but I think he and Jordan Hudson might be available if Tom Brady and the Raiders want to make another impulse hire.
I know this is going to sound petty, but I just don't like Brady. Respect him as a football player, but don't like all of the attention whoring since retirement, something's off
The one constant since 2011 has been Mark Davis, who loves to taunt that "he doesn't know what he doesn't know." I've said it many times, it is time for him to learn "what he doesn't know" if this organization is to move forward. I don't trust Tom (who hired Kelly, even though Pete had another person in mind).
The wording of Pete's firing did, however, indicate that Pete had more of a voice than Spytek on the make up of the team.
This is markedly different for Mark to do since Reggie McKenzie as GM. Think about it, before Reggie, the HC (Hue Jackson) made the decisions. After Reggie: Gruden, McDaniels, Antonio Pierce, and now, Petey made the decisions about the team over the GM. Look at the problems it creates when the Head Coach wants all the decision-power.
Sure, Tom will be the one Spytek answers too; but I don't think we are going down another "Patriot Way" debacle. F@$&%^ the Patriots! We're the Raiders!
We will see. I think a strong indication that we will go the "Patriot Way" is if Brian Flores is hired, and if that happens, I may not be a "fan" much longer.
The bottom line for the Raiders is that they cannot afford to mess this up anymore. JUST PROVE IT, BABY!
I know what Mark Davis doesn't know - how to run a coherent football organization and how to learn from mistakes
But I'm not sure if Mark knows that he doesn't know those things, which may be the root of the problem
His dad knew, and yet, didn't help him, or find an adequate replacement. He had one with Amy Trask though. In the last post, I gave my Top 5 HC Candidates: Joe Brady, Chris Shula, Klint Kubiak, Mike LeFleur, and Gruden. I really don't think Kubiak would take the job if it were offered to him, just my opinion. He had the chance to take the Saints job, and turned it down.
Anyway, here are some other names I find intriguing:
Grant Udinski (OC, Jags). At 29, he would be the youngest HC ever, but look what he did with Jacksonville's offense this year.
Kliff Kingsbury. We had the opportunity to hire him as OC, in fact, this is who Pete wanted before Brady trumped him and hired Kelly. Like Kubiak, I'm not sure he'd take it though.
Frank Ross (ST Coordinator, Texans). There is a thought that ST Coordinators make great coaches ; and Ross is a prime example of that. I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who understands the game as much as he does.
Adam Stenavich (OC, Packers). Was the leading candidate for the Bears last season when they thought Ben Johnson was going to the Raiders.
Ejiro Evero (DC, Panthers). If we want to go with a defensive minded coach, this is the guy (not Saleh).
David Shaw (passing game coordinator, Lions). Has deep ties to the Raiders and Gruden. Did a fantastic job as HC in Stanford, would love his first HC job in the NFL to be with the Raiders.
Kevin Stefanski (fired HC of Browns). This would be intriguing because of the work he did in Cleveland, a franchise in more disarray as the Raiders. But like Kubiak, I'm not sure he'd take the job if offered because it would be too much like the dysfunction in Cleveland. Immediate rumor is he is the top choice for the Giants.
Jesse Minter (DC, Chargers). This would be another intriguing name. He has done wonders with the Chargers defense; but with his long time ties to the Chargers, not sure he'd be interested. Definitely worth the conversation.
Patrick Graham (DC, Raiders). I would love to see him get a chance to be the HC. He is one of the smartest people in the League, and the players on the team deeply respect him and how he has handled himself the past few years in difficult situations.
Just say a hard "NO" to the following names being mentioned by people:
Robert Saleh, Brian Flores, Matt Nagy, Todd Monken, Vance Joseph, and Mike McCarthy.
Davis issued a statement delegating responsibility to Brady and Spytek. But Davis saying he's removing himself, IMO, doesn't cure the problems. IMO, the Raiders are steeped in all new dysfunctionality with Tom Brady making the calls. He didn't exactly hit his last HC choice out of the park. Instead, he brought the entire Raider Nation to its knees.
SS reporterad
A bunch of business people in a board room. A owner who knows nothing of managing, Brady...really? And Spytek...ditto; And business people with them. Thstis is who makes ,over for hirings and the roster. I think guys who might know football were able and or better to build a team. This bunch of execs and ex players and ownership groups and business people is a plan for others but just isn't he.pingus
Several teams like Bears, Pats and Jags made lightning fast turns from last season. The Broncos are the #1 seed in the AFC for crying out loud. But at this point, how can we trust the Raiders process? How many times can they screw this up, because it seems infinite? The statement from Mark Davis is like a Hallmark card. It was probably written by AI. Tom Brady and his puppet GM have already shown us they are fallible, and it only took them one season.
The Raiders have the resources to make a 1-2 year turn. #1 slot in the draft, something like $100M in salary cap space and a bevy of worthy players like Bowers, Crosby, Jeanty, Miller, JPJ, Mayer, and others.
The window for stuff like this is usually very short. The Raiders already traded away their only starting WR. Now leave it to them to trade Crosby for draft picks... because we've done so well doing that in the past, right?
Assuming the Raiders reverse course and draw from the well of top coordinators instead of retreads and retirees, there are many top-flight coordinators worth vetting. I'd be more concerned about drawing from other coaches who were just fired, which I saw on some wish lists. Let's assume if they failed elsewhere, they will fail exponentially with the Raiders.
Yet with all the resources at their disposal, it seems axiomatic that just using the most conventional wisdom will send the Raiders in the right direction. Don't overthink it. Right? Don't tell me you're moving an All-American center to play guard, then have him ride the bench. Don't tell me some college QB has more upside than Mendoza when Mendoza is hitting everything he touches out of the park.
How many years of failure will it take for the Raiders to stop overthinking and outsmarting themselves?
All the stars are lined up. This thing could run on autopilot and produce results. If the Raiders could plug into some AI supercomputer we'd be all set. Instead we have Davis, Brady and Spytek running the show. Soon they'll be telling us how great the Raiders are going to be, again.
We know, what we know !!! That is that the Raiders will draft Mendoza with the # 1 pick. That should mea n a young, offensive minded HC will be hired, to pair with Mendoza.
Mendoza on his back all the time does Raiders no good, so obviously, the 0-line must be improved.
Who will Mendoza throw the ball to ? Dump offs to Jeanty, and intermediate passes to the TE's are nice, but Raiders need to get ball down field to WR's. My hope is they can get Chris Olave from the Saints. I think he is the most underrated WR in NFL.
Anyhow, that's a starting point of a plan. Sure hope Brady/Spytek have one.
Ghost, that's conventional wisdom you're applying. Are the Raiders capable of that?
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47517128/las-vegas-raiders-2025-collapse-mark-davis-tom-brady-pete-carroll-geno-smith-dysfunction
Brutal write up. I am ok with giving Brady a shot but the man needs to committ full time and be there to help Mendoza etc.. Sandy
Yikes! Sandy, that is not a good article for the Raiders. It doesn't come out and say it, but with all the dysfunction there was no accountability. I think Spytek spoke to this in his interview yesterday that there will be accountability with the next coach and his staff (shots were fired). I think Brady will continue to broadcast (that's where he makes $$), and leave Spytek in charge while holding him accountable.
Meanwhile, we fans continue to hold our breath wondering if this time it will work out ....
Breaking from Tom Pelissero, the Ravens have fired John Harbaugh! Raider Nation, we may have are next Head Coach right here!
That's crazy. Who do the Ravens think they will replace him with that's better? I honestly don't know how to process that. I should be happy the Raiders might have a shot at Harbaugh but I was also kind of hoping the Raiders might find the next Ben Johnson. This needs to be carefully vetted.
What I'm seeing is that the Raiders have resources and options.
No more excuses!
Raiders requested interview with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
With that request, the Raiders are already outpacing last year's ridiculous HC search effort. They should also sit down with Harbaugh asap. Keep 'em coming... and make an informed decision, for a change.
NY, I think John Harbaugh with a young OC would be awesome! I think his downfall in Baltimore was really Todd Monken, and his vanilla play calls. How can you have Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson, DeAndre Hopkins, and Zay Flowers and fall flat offensively like they did this year? They had problems with their O-Line too.
John is a very conservative coach, but he would need a guy who would be willing to take risks offensively to help balance that out; and John would have to be ok with that. I love the idea, but not sure it would work, or how it would work.
I don't like the idea of Harbaugh, they need someone younger and from the offensive side of the ball. Sandy
I don't know, I personally think that Jim & John Harbough are vastly overrated as head coaches. They're solid, good, even very good, but the way people fall all over them, as if they are unquestionably great....I just don't know.
You have to take a hard, critical look at everyone really. What the heck is Belichick's record without Tom Brady, not too good, right ?
So somebody please tell me, other than being about ten years younger, what is the difference between John Harbough, and Pete Carroll ?
Would Harbaugh's fall and transition to another team resemble Andy Reid, or would it be more like Pete Carroll?
And, Nate, your question is valid. With the superstar talent the Ravens had on offense, how could they fail so bad?
I feel like chasing Harbaugh might be the easy path, but searching a legit next best HC will mean putting in the work that the Raiders have stupidly avoided for decades.
I don't know Harbaugh the way I now know Carroll. Is Harbaugh a systems coach like Carroll? Would he be another problem the Raiders have to repair next year?
On a side note, I read that the Ravens recently extended DT John Jenkins. Obviously, Jenkins made an impression. DT was a major weakness for the Raiders heading into the season, but it looks like they have some young guys worthy of another try. Shame Carroll didn't get them on the field sooner. Same with all the other young players he resisted playing.
I also read a scathing article about Brennan Carroll, how he is not detail oriented and how line players were doing two-a-week meetings without coaches to go over what they weren't being trained by coaches. The article called the 2025 coaching staff among the worst in Raiders history and cited how Carroll hijacked both the offense and defense from Kelly and Graham, respectively.
Seems like Spytek just watched it all play out. What happened to "see something say something? No surprise Carroll was fired by early Monday morning. There were no further deliberations.
How many former head coaches are the Raiders still paying? It's got to be several, right?
Ghost: "I don't know, I personally think that Jim & John Harbaugh are vastly overrated as head coaches. They're solid, good, even very good, but the way people fall all over them, as if they are unquestionably great....I just don't know."
I think your statement applies more to Jim than it does John. John has been the Ravens coach for 18 years, and was a Special Teams coach long before that. He really paved the way for his younger brother.
Jim has a tendency to stay at a place for 5, at the most 6, years. John seems to be more stable. Looking at his record, he seems to be more the kind of coach that coaches to the strengths of the team, and is all about being aggressive on both sides of the ball. However, offensively, he is a power/run guy and sets everything up with the run; and it can be VERY vanilla. That is why I said he'd need a young OC who is willing to take risks; but would he accept that? If I were to interview him, I'd ask him about his philosophy on offense and would he be willing to tweak it some to be a little more aggressive at times.
With that said, he seemed to open up more with Lamar Jackson at QB, who has a big arm. But this last season, it seemed that even Lamar was way more conservative; but I think that falls more on Todd Monken than Harbaugh and that is based on Lamar's multiple MVP seasons before Monken. I think John took the sword for his OC this year.
This is the kind of character John has, the Ravens team site posted this statement from him after he was let go:
"Well, I was hoping for a different kind of message on my last day here, someday, but that day has come today. 😊 It comes with disappointment certainly, but more with GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION.
Gratitude to the owner and organization who was willing to bring in a head coach who made his mark with Special Teams success. A difficult thing to do … and Appreciation for all the moments, all these years, that are etched into eternity.
I hope a legacy built on Faith, always Fighting, always Believing.
Values built into an Organization, through a Team, that are Worthwhile, Good and Lasting and that are admired by fans and foes alike.
Meaningful & Impactful Relationships with Players through the years that I will cherish always. Grateful for their Strength and Courage.
Loyal partnerships in this wonderful building, that grew into strong friendships, through the toil and tempest of the job every day.
Mostly to my treasured Family, my Ingrid and my Alison, who are beyond compare in every way and the Loves of my life, and my close-knit family and good friends who stick with you no matter what.
Finally, to the author and finisher of our faith, Gratitude for a Journey beyond anything I could have dreamed of on my own – All is well with my soul because of the Good God who guides and sustains me."
I don't think he'd be anything like Pete. He will land on his feet quickly. I have him pegged for possibly: Titans, Giants, would love to see the Raiders at least interview him (he has to be better than Matt Nagy who is interviewing this week), and maybe even Cleveland if they were smart. He is not going to be out of a job for long.
Post a Comment
<< Home