Raiders reporter names 2-time Super Bowl champ as possible GM favorite

The Las Vegas Raiders head coach and general manager search will heat up this week. The team will now have the chance to meet with the presumed favorite for the head coaching job, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, in person starting Monday after Detroit's playoff exit on Saturday, and have also begun conducting interviews for the general manager role.

Las Vegas has sent in interview requests for multiple general manager candidates but currently has just two scheduled interviews with Washington Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark and Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Newmark has a close relationship with Johnson, which will obviously play a significant factor in the general manager search, as the Lions coordinator is widely considered the Raiders No.1 option. Newmark also has ties to Aaron Glenn, who is also a candidate for Las Vegas' head coaching vacancy.

"Newmark spent 26 seasons in Detroit before joining Washington last year, and is said to have a strong relationship with both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn," Schefter posted on X.

Schefter's colleague at ESPN, Jeremy Fowler, also posted on X that a Johnson-Newmark head coach general manager combo is something to keep an eye on.

"This is one to watch," Fowler said. "A potential Ben Johnson-Lance Newmark pairing in Vegas is one that some around the league have been quietly monitoring for the last week."

Though Newmark seems like a strong candidate for Las Vegas' vacant general manager job, Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore urges fans not to sleep on the idea of Spytek becoming the general manager, stating that he "figures prominently as the next GM."

Bonsignore added that hiring Spytek as general manager doesn't mean the franchise will strike out on landing Johnson as head coach.

There is a ton to unpack from all this, but nevertheless, Newmark or Spytek would be fantastic general manager hires from the Raiders. 

Both have been integral parts of their respective franchises, as Newmark has helped rebuild the Commanders into an NFC contender with Adam Peters, while Spytek won a Super Bowl as a scout with the Denver Broncos in 2015 and as director of player personnel with Tampa Bay in 2020. He's served as Tampa Bay's assistant general manager since 2023.

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