Tom Telesco has been appointed as the new general manager for the Las Vegas Raiders, with Champ Kelly missing out on the role.
Raiders land experienced GM to lead rebuild
After Dave Ziegler was fired on October 31st, Kelly was able to continue serving as the assistant general manager, a position he already held. He was then given the temporary title of interim manager and was highly considered for the permanent role.
Telesco, who is 51 years old, previously held the position of general manager for the Los Angeles Chargers, a rival team in the AFC West, since 2013. However, both Telesco and coach Brandon Staley were dismissed by the Chargers on December 15th, following their loss of 63-21 to Las Vegas.
During Telesco’s time as the draftsman, he selected a total of eight Pro Bowl athletes, consisting of quarterback Justin Herbert, wide receiver Keenan Allen, and defensive end Joey Bosa. However, the Chargers’ overall record under his leadership was 86-95, with three playoff appearances and no divisional championship victories.
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Telesco brings winning pedigree to Las Vegas
Telesco will find a sense of familiarity in joining the Raiders because they have recently appointed three rookie coaches. On Friday, Antonio Pierce was officially named as the permanent coach, removing his interim title.
Telesco’s main focus will be making a decision regarding the quarterback position. Aidan O’Connell, a rookie, took over as the starter when Pierce came in, and despite leading the Raiders to a 5-4 record during that period, his inconsistency raised concerns about whether he was the long-term solution as the team’s quarterback.
The Raiders have the 13th pick in this year’s draft, which means it is unlikely for them to have the opportunity to select a top quarterback unless they make a trade to move up. Another possibility is for the Raiders to choose to keep their current position and potentially pick Michael Penix Jr. from Washington if he is still available in the draft.
