John Spytek Helped Convince Bucs To Wash Hands Of Jameis Winston (And Sign Tom Brady)
May 7th, 2025
Started the Tom Brady chase.
Seeing the byline “Dan Pompei” in The Athletic means Joe knows a story is going to be good.
And Pompei’s latest (Pompei lives part-time in Tampa after decades covering the Bears) is an eye-opening piece for not just showing how former Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and former Bucs assistant general manager John Spytek are tight (they were teammates at Michigan), but Pompei offers up a cool piece of Bucs history.
It seems from Pompei’s feature, it was Spytek who strongly believed the Bucs could do better than having America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, lead the team. And it was Spytek who planted a seed in Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s head that Brady might be the answer.
And Licht laughed at Spytek.
Who is laughing now?
Of course, Spytek is now the Raiders general manager and he’s working for… Brady [and Mark Davis] in Las Vegas. Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders.
Pompei noted that it seemed the Bucs may have leaned to commit long-term to Jameis after he threw for over 5,000 yards in 2019, a rare feat of production.
Spytek was not sold, apparently horrified by Jameis’ picks. While scouting late in the 2019 season veteran quarterbacks who may be available for the 2020 season, Spytek believed Brady could still sling it.
In Tampa, Jameis Winston, the former first pick in the draft, arguably had the best season of his career in 2019 under new coach Bruce Arians. The assumption was that the Bucs would commit to Winston long term, even though he had led the league in interceptions.
Spytek’s job, however, was to open his mind and the minds of others. Late in the season, he studied tape of veteran quarterbacks he thought might be available. Among them were Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. One day, Licht walked into the draft room, which was adjacent to his office, and saw Spytek watching Brady. Spytek told him Brady’s contract was expiring, and he didn’t see any drop-off in his play. Licht chuckled. …
Two days later, Licht approached Spytek at practice.
“I watched Tom,” he said. “He’s still pretty f—ing good.”
That set into motion a move that would rock the football world and change NFL history. The Bucs chased Brady in free agency.
Almost overnight, while the world was shut down by “The Sickness,” the Bucs — yes, the Buccaneers — morphed into an internationally popular team (albeit for three brief seasons), thanks to No. 12.
Oh yeah, and a Super Bowl-winning team, too.
Fascinating article with Pompei detailing how Licht assembled Bucco Bruce Arians, Rob McCartney, Mike Biehl, Mike Greenberg and Spytek together in a meeting to brainstorm a clandestine plan to lure Brady to Tampa Bay. Secrecy was paramount, as if Licht was Adm. Chester Nimitz taking his lone three aircraft carriers to ambush the Japanese fleet near Midway Island.
If word leaked, the whole campaign to sign Brady could blow up in their faces and chase other veteran quarterbacks away from Tampa Bay.
Risks were high. Odds were higher.
And, Pompei details the weekly meetings Brady had with Spytek and McCartney. Licht, per Pompei, initially wanted Brady meeting with low-level scouts to go over the next opponent. Spytek shot that idea down and offered up himself to meet with Brady weekly.
Spytek said prepping for his weekly meeting with Brady was a day-long task of research.
Sptyek told [Brady] Marshon Lattimore was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. “He’s not Darrelle Revis,” Brady shot back.
Lattimore would intercept Brady in Week 1. As Pompei noted, Brady’s trust in Spytek was quickly earned.
Joe thinks it’s fair to say that was the beginning of Spytek’s Vegas nights (and days).
Do yourself a favor. This is a tremendous read. Pompei has a lot of behind-the-scenes quotes and anecdotes from Brady’s first Bucs season that ended in a drunken boat parade.
May 7th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Great Article!!!!. enough said more of these lol
May 7th, 2025 at 7:44 am
🇺🇸
Well done, Spytek and Licht, so many of us fans were clamoring to get rid of America’s Turnover Machine, but some folks were like, “but muh 5k yards, turnovers don’t matter!”
They were thankfully wrong, and we got one hell of a swan song from TB12. Thanks for the chip. We wouldn’t sniff playoffs with Jameis because he’s not a winner. He’s a slinger of the rock, not a QB.
May 7th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Leading the charge for the ouster of America’s Turnover Machine is worthy of a statue. Getting rid of Winston AND leading the charge in getting Brady? A statue AND several parks named after him.
May 7th, 2025 at 7:51 am
SPYtek, a great name and a great football mind!
May 7th, 2025 at 7:56 am
Great one again Joe!
Thanks!!
LFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2025 at 8:00 am
Bucs fans got the ultimate experience in the acquisitions of Brady and Gruden.
From point of view that was worth it all the way. The rewards?
TWO SUPERBOWL WINS BABY!!!!!!
LFG!!!!
May 7th, 2025 at 8:04 am
So happy we moved on from Winston to Brady!
You need a great QB to be a great coach!
Bill Belichick won 1 playoff game in 9 NFL seasons without Tom Brady as his QB.
May 7th, 2025 at 8:11 am
Great find Joe.
May 7th, 2025 at 8:23 am
the brady years here were just crazy…it happened and passed by so fast…like it was all a dream…but it wasn’t…it actually happened…
it was a phenomenal time to be a bucs fan
May 7th, 2025 at 8:26 am
The lasting cultural impact on this franchise from this decision has been incredible.
“Check yo sheet, I’m balling!!!”
May 7th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Still can’t believe TB came to TB!
Still can’t believe we won the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay!
Still can’t believe Tom didn’t win the MVP that year.
Still can’t believe his wife cheated on him with her ju jitsu instructor, and American simps blamed Tom!
I heard so many Americans, men and women, say “well he should’ve retired!”
What!?
He was 46! Most men work into their 60’s and 70’s!
The way Americans judged Tom and took Giseles side was sick!
Toxic femininity!
Gisele destroyed her own daughter by ripping her away from her daddy!
Gisele is to blame! Not Tom!
She was cheating with her ju-jitsu instructor!
And Tom took the blame?
Make America Manly Again!
Study Schopenhauer, Neitzche, and Carl Jung!
Stop being naive men without cajones!
Stop being henpecked men!
May 7th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Stuff like this is why JBF.com is such a great website, Joe.
Thank you so much for this little bit of background on such an important part of the team’s history! 🙂
I still get goose bumps when I remember watching ESPN and NFL Network right after the end of the 2019 and the reports of “Tom Brady is going to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers”.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:05 am
I usually wait till at least 10 to hit the tequila. Agree with some of it. I’m too frightened of girls to say I agree with all of it, LOLOLOL. Given the great 1st super bowl we had I have to rank the Brady years as the best except the last year. I see the residual effect from his attitude but he did credit ME, CG and others in his time here. I believe it has morphed our franchise into the best one in the NFL. We are proactive in helping others reach their dreams of coaching, have model players who give back to the community and stay off the police lineup. Are building a solid team with continuity in the coaching ranks except for our OC’s getting poached but that is a testament to more solid choices being made. I don’t listen to the outside noise, it makes me chuckle.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:09 am
I’m a fan of the Bucs and a fan of Tom Brady and a fan of this website. Great stuff, Joe.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:14 am
Great article and God Bless you John!
May 7th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Now that was a fascinating read. Besides the two years of greatness tith the GOAT…look at how JayMiss evolved. Mike Evans was the only reason anybody thought Winston was any good at all. Winston stunk it up in NOLO and went downhill from there. Then we get Baker Mayfield to replace Brady. Changed our trajectory.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:24 am
Dude should read some Freud, because he’s Freudian slipping all over the place.
X-A-N-A-X
May 7th, 2025 at 9:27 am
I’m not taking Tom’s or Giselle’s side. I don’t know them and I wasn’t in the room when all of this was happening. Did she cheat on Tom first, or did he break a promise with her by not retiring? Who knows and who cares. Unless you’re very good friends with them, it’s pretty naive and clueless to take a side.
If Jameis was a good quarterback, we would have had a lot more wins at some point with him. And he would have been picked up by another team as their true starter right away. That didn’t happen. His turnovers (ints AND fumbles) and pick sixes actually cost us a few wins every season. Eating W’s? Puh-leeze!
May 7th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Dodging overpaying Jameis and replacing his overrated ass with Brady – that alone should put Spytek in the ring of honor.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Winston has not stuck with any team yet and to think that Licht was going to sign him long term…. Lucky Spytek was in the room.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:49 am
I’m m not sure it takes a genius to know Jaboo had to go…
But good on him for getting it done.
May 7th, 2025 at 10:13 am
The brightest light in one of the darkest times was when the Bucs realized Winston is a scrub and cut him loose! Horrible 1st pick…
May 7th, 2025 at 10:22 am
The New England Patriots and especiaaly Bill Beliicek would not be con
sidered the greatest NFL coach.
Tom Brady elevated everyones game…he took and won the Super Bown in season one for Tampa Bay
May 7th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Behind the scenes greatness of Spytek, Licht, and Arians. Tom Brady was the turning point for the Bucs. The foundation is there for the boys to keep going. Super Bowl 2026. Keeping it real in Ireland.
May 7th, 2025 at 11:13 am
Love hearing that back story. The Arians comment about Brady when Jameis was still QB makes a lot more sense.
May 7th, 2025 at 11:44 am
– The idea of signing Brady was laughable to Licht
– Licht wanted to extend Jameis
– Licht wanted Brady game planning with low-level scouts
This story is really painting Spytek as the front office hero in Tampa. Will be interesting to see how Licht performs moving forward without this guy by his side.
May 7th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Licht is not a genius by any measure.
Anyone following football could easily do his job.
He brought the nightmare Jameis Winston to Tampa and almost doubled down.
Just imagine the nightmare we’d be going through now.
He’s proven to be incapable of drafting a solid defense that can win year after year.
I’ll give him credit for his FA signings as those have been some of the biggest moves that did lead to a title.
He’s too in love with every move he makes. That’s not a good character trait.
May 7th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
STFU TB#1. Your jammering noise is beyond aggravating.
JW is a sad case. The world was his oyster and he blew it bigtime the very first off season. Although it was clear from the beginning that JW was a gifted athlete from the neck down. No character and no smarts or judgement doomed him.
But he still gets the last laugh as a multimillionaire and I’m truly happy for him.
He was born with great athletic talent and minimum brains and character. Can’t have everything I guess.
May 7th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
ToddBowles#1 Says:
May 7th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Licht is not a genius by any measure.
———————–
How long have you actually been a Buc fan? Better yet, why don’t you apply for Licht’s job?
May 7th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Fantastic read! It worked out perfectly for the Bucs.
May 7th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Winston’s next best move would be becoming a media clown for some network.
May 7th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Very cool piece, thanks Joe(s)!
May 7th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
Hearty Dickerson.
You read a different story than I did.
Licht and Arians were clearly a lead in getting Brady. The article never acted like it was a Spytec decision that he had to somehow beg or plead to those other guys — what the heck were you reading.
Or read the JBF articles from that time and you will see it. So many of the Bucs fans were against Brady like:
However, Joe got it in an article on January 6, 2020. Joe said the following:
“If Brady is on the market (he would be a free agent in March), how could Team Glazer not be dazzled by the thought of selling out the Den of Depression and the sizzle of several nationally televised night games? Brady would deliver all of that.
Forget about Bucco Bruce Arians and Jason Licht, Brady would be an ownership call first and foremost.
Yes, Joe thinks Arians and Licht would want Brady, too. Remember that Licht worked around Brady with the Belicheats for several years.”
To which Joe got these replies:
ATLBucs Says:
January 6th, 2020 at 1:53 pm
Brady is a system QB and is called GOAT simply because he has thrived in BB’s system.
Licht Headed Says:
January 6th, 2020 at 8:08 am
Bucs fans the dumbest in the NFL. Tom Ricketty behind that offensive line and no running game? That’s no future at all. Fans are the real laughingstock in Tampa.
Danny Says:
January 6th, 2020 at 8:28 am
I live up here in Boston as Bucs fan. Brady isn’t coming to Tampa to play with the Bucs.
unbelievable Says:
January 6th, 2020 at 12:12 pm
LOFL at anyone thinking Brady would even contemplate playing for a sorry franchise like the Bucs.
BucsFanSince1976 Says:
January 6th, 2020 at 10:13 am
Bucs need an RPO QB and Taysom Hill is that guy. You can see from watching the Saints game yesterday that Hill has a burning desire to WIN and is one of the fastest and strongest QB’s in the league and a darn good thrower of the football.
The question is-Do we have a GM smart enough to sign Taysom to a sheet?
May 7th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
I don’t believe I’ve ever heard Licht even claim he deserved much of the credit. The humility of Licht, and the self awareness of him may be his best assets. The guy always credits his team of professionals at the front office for any success he’s had. Not every successful person has to be a genius, but they have to have some very high IQ qualities to them. Jason Licht is a great GM and is getting better every year it seems. His best attribute may be the formation of the philosophy of “that man” and his ability to see players for what they truly are.
May 7th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Thank you Geno!
Boy, Joe wishes this comment could be framed in Joe’s office.
May 7th, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Oh shut-up you d-bag, signing Tom Brady was a no-brainer. I was a huge Winston fan, he would have gotten the Bucs to the playoffs the next year, ALL QBs have record high INTs in the first year of Arians systems, then settle down the next year (Manning, Brady, Palmer, all had the most INTs in year 1 of Arians). But Tom Brady is Tom Brady – changes your franchise. Said all this at the time, and it’s not an original thought or idea. Why is this dope pretending like he had some original idea?
May 7th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
Michigan men, GO BLUE!
May 7th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
Yep he did get rid of Jamies for Brady and not only that he also brought in 2 hall of famers and a pro bowl runningback. And yes when Jamies was here none of y’all cared about the running game, o line or defense and we ranked at the bottom every year but one year in 2016 . And what happened once AB and Gronk left Brady looked like he did in 2019 and we went 8-9. Now we have Baker Mayfield and y’all want the running game and the defense you guys care so much about. Not to mention our quarterback right now is ranked second in passing yards under 10 yards which Jamies was asked to throw 45 times a game up the field with no running game but 1 year. Our offense has everything now but we have Alex Smith at quarterback and we can’t even get to the NFC Championship game.
May 7th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
When they signed Brady they said he might only play a couple years but he’d change team culture long term. And that happened!
May 8th, 2025 at 8:04 am
It took one man to change the culture of a whole organization that was looked at as a joke. Spytek is a legend thanks