John Spytek

John Spytek enters his fifth season with the Buccaneers in 2020. Spytek was elevated from director to Vice President of Player Personnel as he enters his sixth season with the Buccaneers in 2021. In his current role, Spytek oversees the day-to-day operations of the college and pro scouting departments for Tampa Bay. He is responsible for administering free agency preparation and evaluating talent throughout the NFL and other professional football leagues. He works closely with Licht regarding the NFL Draft, key free-agent acquisitions and all other personnel decisions.

Most recently, Spytek played a key role in acquiring six-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, Tom Brady and four-time All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski in 2020, as well as in the 2019 free agent signings of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett. Suh started all 16 games and was a vital part of Tampa Bay's No. 1 ranked run defense, while Barrett led the NFL in sacks, with 19.5 – a Buccaneers record – en route to a Pro Bowl berth and a second-team All-Pro selection.

Prior to joining Tampa Bay, Spytek spent three seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he worked as Southwest area scout in 2013, before being elevated to national scout, a position he held for two years (2014-15). The Broncos' 37 regular season and 42 overall wins were the most in the NFL over that three-year span, culminating in a Super Bowl 50 victory on February 7, 2016.

Before joining the Broncos, Spytek spent three seasons (2010-12) as the Cleveland Browns' director of college scouting. While with the Browns, Spytek assisted in drafting six players who earned PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team honors and five players who were selected to a Pro Bowl.

Spytek began his player personnel career working as an intern with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, earning a full-time college scouting assistant position in 2006 and spending three years as a college/pro scout from 2007-09. His first job in the NFL was as an operations intern with the Detroit Lions in 2004.

In his career, Spytek has worked with a number of top-level executives and coaches, including John Elway, Andy Reid, Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert, John Harbaugh & Gary Kubiak.

John and his wife, Kristen co-founded the National CMV Foundation in 2014 to educate families about congenital CMV, a virus that ultimately claimed the life of their 21-month old daughter, Evelyn, in 2014. The couple is also parents to Jack and Thomas.

A native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Spytek played linebacker at the University of Michigan from 1999-2002, earning a bachelor's degree in general studies and a master's in sports management.