Mid way through the 2023 season, as the Las Vegas Raiders stumbled to a 3-5 record, having benched free agent acquisition, Jimmy Garoppolo, and having seemingly yet again little hope for the ensuing season, owner Mark Davis fired both head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager, Dave Ziegler.
Both, once more, a pair of unsuccessful New England Patriots alum.
Despite some strong work from interim general manager and hall of famer, Champ Kelly, it seemed that Davis yearned for some outside expertise and strong track record at the position to pair with former interim now turned full time head coach, Antonio Pierce.
Who Are The Las Vegas Raiders Hiring As Their New GM
Even though the Raiders did decide to move away from the idea of an in-house GM, they didn’t have to look very far for their new guy – in fact, he is the former GM of arch division rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, per Ian Rapoport.
Sources: All signs point to the #Raiders hiring former #Chargers GM Tom Telesco as their new GM. A surprise!
Telesco built one of the NFL’s best rosters over a decade with the rival Chargers. Now, he’s expected to stay in the division. pic.twitter.com/bJuXuAx39n
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 23, 2024
Tom Telesco Having Another Opportunity As An NFL General Manager
When Tom Telesco was fired from the Los Angeles Chargers mid-season – like his predecessor, Ziegler, it felt to many, including myself, like he would get a second crack at a GM gig.
Tom Telesco spent a full decade as general manager of the Chargers, and before un-sanctimoniously being let go, alongside failed head-coaching hire, Brandon Staley, was – and perhaps still is – regarded as one of the smartest executives in the National Football League.
Telesco both drafted star quarterback, Justin Herbert, and assemble a championship caliber roster around him, full of blue chip players like Keenan Allen, Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Derwin James, Rashawn Slater – and there is more after that.
Yet, with poor results coming through the past few seasons, and the very unsuccessful hire of Staley, it seemed like the Chargers wanted a change of direction from the top, despite Telesco’s clear success in the role.
What Is Next For The Raiders?
The Raiders have both their head coach and new GM. So the bones of the organization for the next year at least have been set. They have also been linked with somewhat controversial former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy.
We shall see now, well, in the next few years, if Telesco is able to work his magic and rebuild what is an ageing and weak Las Vegas roster from top to bottom, save for a couple of gems in Maxx Crosby, Kolton Miller and free agent, Josh Jacobs.
If anyone has the pedigree of building teams that, theoretically, are playoff and better caliber, it is Telesco. Plus, he will be able to relish going up against his former employees twice a year, a tidbit that was evidently not lost on him.
