Former Eagles exec turned Raiders GM shares his admiration of Roseman

If you're a casual Philadelphia Eagles fan, the name John Spytek may not ring a bell. The die-hards, of course, know exactly who we're talking about. Scratch that. What are we doing here? Is there such a thing as a 'casual' Eagles fan? Can you name someone who loves this team whose blood doesn't carry traces of midnight or Kelly green?

That said, let's hit the rewind button.

Spytek will always be part of Philadelphia's extended football family. After beginning his NFL journey as an operations intern with the Detroit Lions, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005. The rest, as they say, is history.

The climb that followed - intern (2005), college scouting assistant (2006), and a college/pro scout (2007-09) - was fueled by the same grind that defines so many successful front-office careers.

From there, stops with multiple organizations and more persistence eventually led him to the Las Vegas Raiders' general manager chair, where he's been since the start of the 2025 NFL season.

Former Eagles scout John Spytek compliments his mentor.

Every NFL team has sent representatives to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Howie Roseman spoke with the media. So did Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. Spytek eventually earned his opportunity, and when the topic turned to his mentor, Howie Roseman, the respect was unmistakable.

"Trade calls with Howie?.... Howie's great, and he's one of the best at what he does. And, he finds valued places, so I mean this with respect to Howie. I always watch myself a little bit when he calls because he's so good at what he does. But he's been great. He's been a great mentor to me. He's taught me a lot. I learned a lot from him in the year and a half (or) two years (that) I was with him in Philly when he moved into the personnel department. He's been a great resource to me as I got this job."

It's funny you should say that first part, Mr. Spytek. Many of us have wondered for years why rival GMs still pick up the phone when Roseman calls. How many times does someone have to end up on the wrong side of a deal before they learn?

We're teasing. Mostly.

Because the truth underneath the humor is the real story here: Roseman's influence doesn't stop with Philadelphia's roster construction. His impact shows up across the league through the people he helped develop.

Spytek is proof of that. When protégés become decision-makers, it validates the teacher as much as the student. And who knows? One day, the mentor and the mentee may find themselves negotiating a deal that helps both franchises. If that happens, don't expect Roseman to go easy on you. After all, the best teachers rarely stop competing.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Former Eagles exec turned Raiders GM shares his admiration of Roseman