Silver And Black Pride
The relationship between the general manager and linebacker goes beyond the field.
Especially after losing last year’s starters Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo at the beginning of free agency this offseason, linebacker became one of the Las Vegas Raiders’ biggest needs. About two months prior, the Raiders hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek as their GM.
So, Spytek picked up his phone and called one of his old friends, former Buccaneers linebacker Devin White, to solve one of the most significant issues with the roster he inherited.
“John Spytek, number one,” White replied when asked what made him want to come to Las Vegas. “We’ve got a great relationship. When I got drafted in ‘19, he took me out to dinner. In the process in Baton Rouge, he came down. We had a genuine relationship, myself, him, his kids, his family. They used to wear my jersey and everything.”
Clearly, there’s more than just the typical executive and player relationship here. The White and Spytek families are familiar with each other, and the two grew together in the NFL.
At the time Devin was drafted, John was in his third year as the director of player personnel. Just two years later, they won Super Bowl LV, and Spytek got promoted to vice president of player personnel while White went on to earn Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro bids.
So, the general manager leaned on the success they had together while pitching the Silver and Black to the linebacker.
“Man, he wants to win,” White said of Spytek’s vision for the Raiders after the team’s final mandatory minicamp practice. “When we got to Tampa together, they weren’t a winning franchise at the time. They had won before, just like the Raiders.
“You’ve got to bring in like-minded people, and I think that’s just what he’s trying to do, is just establish that identity, and that starts with the head coach and the GM, and you go get players that fit them.”
Of course, new head coach Pete Carroll is also one of those “like-minded people” that the Raiders brought in this offseason. Carroll has also set out to change the organization’s culture since taking the job in January, and that was clear to White during his free-agent visit.
“When I came here on a visit, it was the first visit that I decided to take, and Coach Pete was genuine, and I could see the camaraderie he had and what he believed in and what he wanted to do with this organization,” the linebacker explained. “I’m cool with being part of a build, and then when the success happens, I’ll feel like I had a part in it. So, I mean we just hit it off.”
Unsurprisingly, another part of the team’s pitch to White was a meeting with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and linebackers coach John Glenn.
“With PG, he sat me down, walked me through the defense, showed me...
