NFL Rumors: Tom Telesco to Interview for Raiders GM Job After Chargers Firing

Former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco will reportedly interview for the Las Vegas Raiders' GM vacancy.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Telesco's interest in hopping between AFC West rivals. Telesco ran the Chargers' football operations from 2013 until he was fired in December alongside head coach Brandon Staley.

Few can argue with Telesco's eye for talent. He plucked Keenan Allen out of Cal in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, found Austin Ekeler as a free agent in 2017 and took a risk on Justin Herbert in 2020, building the foundation of the Los Angeles offense. He found a foundational left tackle in Rashawn Slater in 2021, a quality edge rusher in Joey Bosa in 2016 and an anchor at safety in Derwin James in 2018.

In total, six of Telesco's 11 first-round picks as Chargers general manager went on to make at least one Pro Bowl.

One could argue Telesco's biggest weakness as a general manager was finding the right coach. The Chargers shuffled through three uninspired choices as head coach in Telesco's tenure, with Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Staley all failing to produce consistent winning football despite talented rosters. Chargers football has become synonymous with mind-boggling collapses and last-second losses regardless of who was at the helm.

Staley's three-year run in Los Angeles produced a 24-24 record despite Herbert being one of the most promising quarterbacks in football and the Chargers having the talent to compete with any team in the AFC.

The Raiders are much more of a rebuilding job, but they seemingly already have a coach beloved by the locker room. Antonio Pierce went 5-4 after taking over for Josh McDaniels as Raiders coach midway through this season and has received the full-throated support of several players.

"He's obviously who I want, that's my vote, and I've been vocal about that," wide receiver Davante Adams said. "That's basically how the whole locker room feels, and with good reason. I mean, he's come in and done a great job, and he's continued to win us over. It's not just the comfortable thing.

"Having AP [Antonio Pierce] here will be a big deal for this organization. He kind of embodies what it means to be a Raider, and that mentality, that swag, and all the things that he endorses are the things that I believe in."

That type of internal support could hamstring a general manager who might want to bring in their preferred choice as coach. That said, given Telesco's poor history of choosing coaches, a job where one is already in place might be perfect.