Fired by the Chargers last month, Tom Telesco brings 11 years of experience as a GM. At least one team will see what the longtime Chargers executive has to offer.
The Raiders have set up an interview with Telesco, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Although Champ Kelly has served as an interim GM, Telesco is the only candidate in this race who has previously been hired to head up a front office. This marks his first connection to a GM job since the Bolts fired he and Brandon Staley following the Raiders’ 63-21 demolition last month.
Telesco, who came to San Diego from Indianapolis in 2013, featured generally well-regarded rosters in Southern California. The Chargers received considerable hype often during Telesco’s tenure, despite the organization not having a reputation for big spending. The Bolts hired three first-time head coaches (Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn, Staley) during Telesco’s tenure. Each made the playoffs, but overall, the Bolts were just 3-for-11 in playoff berths under Telesco.
That said, Telesco managed to craft a Philip Rivers-to-Justin Herbert quarterback pipeline. Telesco extended Herbert this past offseason, locking down the high-end talent through the 2029 season. That deal has made the Chargers’ HC job quite attractive. Telesco also drafted Pro Bowlers Joey Bosa, Derwin James and Rashawn Slater in the first round while finding perennial Pro Bowler Keenan Allen in the third. Injuries often intervened for the Chargers, who regularly experienced late-game letdowns — the most notorious coming in a 27-point wild-card collapse against the Jaguars.
Telesco, 51, was previously a Bill Polian mainstay. He was with the Hall of Fame exec in Buffalo, Carolina and Indianapolis. He rose from the scouting ranks to the Colts’ director of player personnel under Polian, collecting a Super Bowl ring for Indianapolis’ 2006 season, and spent one season under Ryan Grigson before the Chargers’ hire 11 years ago. Courtesy of PFR’s General Manager Search Tracker, here is how the Raiders’ GM pursuit looks so far:
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Interview requested
- Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Interview requested
- Terrance Gray, vice president of player personnel (Bills): Expected to interview
- Champ Kelly, interim general manager (Raiders): To interview
- Adam Peters, assistant general manager (49ers): Interview requested
- Tom Telesco, former general manager (Chargers): To Interview
Really….
Guy just fired in October. 3 different HC hires during his stay and the last being a disaster.
May have hit on some draft picks but not sure how you hire this guy.
Look at the roster he built though during his time there. HC hire was a disaster and he definitely was to loyal to him but you can’t deny the chargers have very talented football players.
Please no!
The writing is absolutely killing me: “despite the organization not having a reputation for big spending”
The Chargers are $34.5+ million over the cap, 2 of the top ten highest paid edge rushers, 2 of the top ten highest paid receivers, a top 5 highest paid QB, an inability to make the playoffs, or establish a fan base with a brand new stadium.
The fact that Mark Davis is spending time entertaining such an option adds credit to the argument that he is that guy that orders chicken nuggets at Ruth’s Chris.
The Chargers made the playoffs in 2022 and they’ve had direct ties to L.A. since the late 90’s. Contrast with the Raiders who never truly put down roots in the Southland.
Of all the fired HCs, Staley had the most talent to work with. Chargers seemed to always have devastating injuries too. Could do worse imo. As a Broncos fan, I hope they end up with one of those less qualified candidates.
Mark Davis is such a clown. Just keep Champ and Pierce and get the eff out of the way. Oh, and find a decent barber FFS