Tag: Telesco

Aug 13, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco watches during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Raiders hiring Tom Telesco as GM

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tom Telesco is staying in the AFC West Division, as the Las Vegas Raiders are preparing to hire the longtime Chargers general manager to the same position, NFL Network and ESPN reported Tuesday.

Telesco, 51, led the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers’ front office from 2013-23 before the franchise dismissed both him and coach Brandon Staley after a disastrous 63-21 loss in Week 15 — to the rival Raiders.

During Telesco’s tenure as GM, the Chargers made the playoffs just three times in 11 seasons and never got past the divisional round, despite working with quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. The Chargers went 84-92 during his tenure.

The Raiders finished the 2023 season 8-9, three games better than the Chargers (who lost Herbert to a Week 14 injury). Before hiring Telesco, they installed interim coach Antonio Pierce as their full-time boss after Pierce took over midseason for Josh McDaniels.

Telesco replaces David Ziegler, who was fired in November along with McDaniels.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a wild card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

QB Justin Herbert’s voice prominent in Chargers’ OC search

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Justin Herbert might not get the keys to the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator search, but the quarterback will steer when general manager Tom Telesco seeks input.

“I know that’s what (head coach) Brandon (Staley) thinks,” Telesco said Thursday. “And that’s the way I’ve always operated with quarterbacks who’ve kind of earned that.”

The offensive coordinator hire will be the third in Herbert’s four seasons, and Staley said Wednesday the replacement for fired Joe Lombardi needs to be innovative and adaptable.

More than anything, the play-caller must showcase his plan to feature, develop and maximize Herbert.

“We’ll always be a passing team,” Telesco said. “We have Justin Herbert. We like to throw the ball. We’re never going to be a 50/50-balance team of run and pass. But you do have to be able to run the ball efficiently and effectively, especially in the second half of games when you have leads. We were unable to do that this year.”

The Chargers were 30th in the NFL in rushing, and while not striving for exact run-pass balance, Telesco and Staley pointed to a less-predictable plan on offense.

Staley, who coached under Sean McVay with the Rams before taking over the Chargers in 2021, said ideally he would find a coordinator familiar with the McVay- or Kyle Shanahan-style scheme. The Chargers reportedly were denied in their request to interview Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Wes Phillips, who worked under McVay on the same staff as Staley in 2020.

Phillips is the son of former NFL defensive coordinator and head coach Wade Phillips and the grandson of former Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints coach Bum Phillips.

Other options could include former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, who served as Chargers’ offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015 and before that was the team’s quarterbacks coach. His tenure overlapped with Telesco, now in his 11th year with the franchise.

“There are some positives here,” Telesco said. “Understand that I’m not sitting up here saying I deserve anything, but I like where our roster is headed. I love the coaching staff.”

–Field Level Media