Tag: Tom Telesco

GM Tom Telesco, HC Antonio Pierce detail what Raiders are looking for in an OC

GM Tom Telesco, HC Antonio Pierce detail what Raiders are looking for in an OC

Two weeks into the Raiders’ offseason and they officially have their head coach and general manager in place. The Raiders retained interim head coach Antonio Pierce and hired former Chargers longtime GM Tom Telesco to the GM job.

The two of them took to the podium Wednesday to be officially introduced and take questions from the media.

One burning question involves the next step for the Raiders now that the head coach and GM are in place. That’s what they are looking for in an offensive coordinator.

“Minimum 24 points,” Antonio Pierce said with a laugh.

Though that was a bit of a wink and a nod to the fact that the Raiders didn’t score more than 20 points over the first eight games last season with Josh McDaniels and Mick Lombardi in charge of the offense.

“I don’t think everybody’s meant to be for the Raiders,” Pierce continued. “I don’t think everybody’s meant to play for the Raiders or coach for the Raiders. I think that’s going to be something I really dig into as we go into that process.”

That process is starting immediately as the Raiders have several offensive coordinator interviews lined up this week.

Pierce mocked the assumption that he simply “wants to run the ball.”

“No, AP just wants to run a style of football. It’s the approach. It’s being a teacher. It’s being somebody that can stand in this room and the men who are looking at him like you’re looking at me that they believe in the plan and the process and they are a teacher and they can adjust on the fly. Because that’s what this game is all about.

“Style of play? I think that’s all going to vary. There’s a lot that goes into it. We know that we have some positions on our roster that we need to look at and be evaluated more. With Tom and myself as we go forward. But you know what you see in the National Football League. You’ve got to be able to run the football, play action pass, and what are the Raiders known for? The vertical passing game. So, we want to see the shots down the field. We want the explosive plays. So, that has to be a part of it. The creativity — the shifts, the motions — all that stuff goes into it.”

Then it was Telesco’s turn to answer. He first said “I’ll just go with his answer.” Then he elaborated. Sort of.

“One thing I talked about in the interview is you want to have an identity,” said Telesco. “The Raiders have an identity on offense. It’s speed and get the ball downfield. So, that’s definitely going to be a part of that. But there’s more that goes along with that. We have to run the ball when we have to run it and play action pass, but we’ll find the right offensive coordinator that’s going to fit this team.”

It sounds a lot like the style of play will be largely dependent upon what they hear from the OC’s they speak with along with the strengths of the team.

The most telling statements came from Pierce which were 1. Ability to get players to buy in. 2. Style will vary based on players on the field. And 3. Ability to adjust on the fly.

Last season they were unable to do a lot of what they wanted to do because they simply didn’t have the talent at quarterback to get it done. First with Jimmy Garoppolo and then with Aidan O’Connell.

So, obviously getting a talented quarterback in there will go a long way.

Colts’ Ed Dodds won’t be Raiders new GM

Ed Dodds won’t be the new GM for the Raiders.

The Indianapolis Colts are one step closer to keeping the front office intact this offseason as the Las Vegas Raiders decided to go in a different direction than Ed Dodds for their general manager vacancy.

Dodds was considered a finalist for the Raiders general manager role. However, the Raiders hired former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco, who was let go from that role during the 2023 season.

Dodds has now interviewed twice with the Raiders when they’ve had a general manager vacancy. The other time came during the 2022 offseason when the Raiders eventually hired Dave Ziegler.

The Colts aren’t out of the woods yet regarding keeping Dodds, the right-hand man to general manager Chris Ballard.

Dodds is still in the running for the Chargers general manager vacancy, and despite the salary-cap trouble they may be in, the fact that Justin Herbert is there makes it an appealing job.

We should know the fate of that decision soon enough, but the Colts are one step closer to keeping the nucleus of the front office together for another season.

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Raiders hire former Chargers general manager Tom Telesco

Tom Telesco is joining the Chargers’ rivals.

The Raiders hired former Chargers general manager Tom Telesco in the same role. The team made the announcement on Tuesday.

Telesco was fired following Los Angeles’ historic 63-21 loss to the Raiders in Week 15 this past season.

Telesco was hired in 2013 and finished 86-95 during his tenure. He made the playoffs three times and never won a divisional title.

Telesco hired Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn and Brandon Staley.

While he did draft notable players in the first round, like Joey Bosa, Derwin James, Justin Herbert, and Rashawn Slater, Telesco struggled to add depth players, and it became evident when injuries occurred.

Before joining the Chargers, Telesco was a member of the Colts’ organization for 14 years as a scout, director of scouting, director of player personnel and vice president of football operations.

Telesco came into the NFL in 1991 as an intern for the Bills, and then joined the Panthers as a scouting assistant and area scout.

Raiders new GM is former Chargers GM Tom Telesco

Raiders new GM is former Chargers GM Tom Telesco

In a bit of a surprise, the Raiders are expected to name Tom Telesco their new General Manager according to NFL media’s Ian Rapoport.

UPDATE: The Raiders have officially announced Telesco as the team’s new GM.

Telesco spent 11 seasons as GM of the Chargers from 2013-23. The Chargers went 84-95 over his tenure, along with 2-3 in three trips to the playoffs. He oversaw the drafting of such players as QB Justin Herbert, S Derwin James, OT Rashawn Slater, and CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Other strong candidates for the Raiders included interim GM Champ Kelly and Colts Assistant GM Ed Dodds.

In the end, it appears Mark Davis is going with the most experienced of the candidates to pair with Antonio Pierce who is making the leap to head coach after just one season coaching at the NFL level as a linebackers coach.

Kelly had been the Raiders Assistant GM prior to the firing of Dave Ziegler. No word yet on if Kelly will return as Assistant GM job or another position in the organization.

Chargers put in request to interview Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham

The Chargers are the second team this offseason to request an interview with Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham.

Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham was in high demand last offseason, and this year appears to be no different. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Los Angeles Chargers have put in a request to interview Cunningham for their vacant general manager position. The Chargers are the second team that has shown interest in Cunningham this offseason, along with the Washington Commanders, who put in a request on Monday.

Los Angeles is searching for its next general manager and head coach after firing Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley late in the 2023 season. Cunningham joins a growing list of candidates, including New Orleans Saints vice president and assistant general manager Jeff Ireland, San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters, Buffalo Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray, and New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown, all of whom have been contacted by the Chargers.

Cunningham is in his second season with the Bears as assistant general manager and has been Ryan Poles’ right-hand man. He’s been instrumental in turning the roster around through the draft and free agency. He was a top candidate last year and turned down the Arizona Cardinals general manager job. Cunningham was also a finalist for the Tennessee Titans job that went to Ran Carthon.

Prior to his experience with the Bears, Cunningham spent four years with the Philadelphia Eagles in a number of roles. He started as director of college scouting (2017), moved up to assistant director of player personnel (2019), and finally was promoted to director of player personnel (2021).

Because Cunningham has been with the Bears for at least two seasons, the team would receive a third-round compensatory pick in each of the next two seasons if he were to get hired as a general manager as part of the Rooney Rule.

Raiders line up several GM interviews while interim GM Champ Kelly sees outside interest

Raiders line up several GM interviews while interim GM Champ Kelly sees outside interest

The words ‘due diligence’ are going to be used a lot in the coming weeks and months, so prepare for that. A strong and inspired finish to this past season has many hoping the Raiders retain interim head coach Antonio Pierce and interim general manager Champ Kelly. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but the Raiders are doing their — wait for it — due diligence before making any official decisions.

Head coaches and GM’s are increasingly package deals in the league. Many coaches want to have some say in who the GM will be and vice versa. Which is why, until a decision is made on one position, the decision has not been made on either position.

Setting aside the head coach position for the time being, the Raiders are seeking out potential GM’s to speak with as part of that process.

Just in the past 24 hours, the Raiders have lined up interviews with three potential General Managers. — 49ers Asst GM Adam Peters, Colts Asst GM Ed Dodds, and former Chargers GM Tom Telesco.

Meanwhile Champ Kelly has received interest from the Panthers for their GM job.

None of this means the Raiders won’t hold onto Kelly ultimately. First and foremost, he needs to be prepared in case they don’t and it’s always a good to be in demand.

But should the Raiders really like one of the head coach candidates and he would prefer someone else as GM, the Raiders need to be prepared for that. Likewise, if they fall in love with one of these GM candidates in the interview process, they will need him to be onboard with the head coaching decision.

 

 

Social media reacts to Chargers waiving Sebastian Joseph-Day

Here’s a sampling of the many responses to Sebastian Joseph-Day’s departure.

The Chargers waived defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day on Friday, the team announced.

Signed in 2022, Joseph-Day started 30 games for Los Angeles, finishing with 87 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception.

The decision to waive Joseph-Day, a team captain during this season, came as a bit of a surprise.

Here is how social media reacted to the news:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chargers head coaching candidate profile: Jim Harbaugh

Examining who Jim Harbaugh is, where he comes from and why he’d be a good choice to be the head coach of the Chargers.

The Chargers will head into the offseason head coach hiring cycle for the first time since 2021. Unlike that year, they will also be looking for a new general manager to take control of the franchises’ football operations for the first time since 2013. With Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley out, the Chargers have to nail their next hires.

First in our offseason coaching search series is Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh. There’s been a lot of recent smoke around the Chargers being interested in Harbaugh’s return to the NFL. Bleacher Report insider Jordan Schultz said that the Chargers have interest. Harbaugh also shot to the top of BetOnline.ag’s odds for the next Chargers’ head coach at +200 on Thursday.

Harbaugh’s career ascended to NFL heights in 2011 with the Niners after successful, program-defining stops at San Diego and Stanford. At the NFL level, Harbaugh was 49-22-1. After successfully rebuilding Michigan’s football program following his San Francisco stint, he enjoys a 142-52 collegiate head coaching record.

What is motivating Harbaugh to a potential NFL return? NCAA violations, first and foremost. Harbaugh’s Michigan program was hit with several recruiting-related violations by the NCAA and was involved with a sign-stealing scandal that got him suspended for three games this season. A return to the NFL with the right ownership would allow the former San Diego Chargers quarterback to leave college on winning terms while not dealing with potential sanctions.

His current situation is reminiscent of the end of Pete Carroll’s USC tenure in the late 00’s. While several NFL media members say the league will not give Harbaugh “safe harbor” from NCAA charges, history says owners are willing to overlook a lot if it can help their organization. I don’t foresee the Harbaugh situation playing out differently in that regard.

But the question comes down to whether it’s actually time for Harbaugh to jump. He’s flirted with NFL interest for multiple offseasons but has returned to Ann Arbor each time. After an unsuccessful interview with the Vikings for their head coaching vacancy in 2022, Harbaugh said he was done chasing NFL interest. He also reportedly interviewed for the Broncos head coaching vacancy in 2023.

One of two things is true. Perhaps recent NCAA bureaucracy has changed Harbaugh’s mind, and he now wants to move to the pros. Or, as he has previously, Michigan’s head coach is leveraging NFL interest into a college extension. Reportedly, an $11 million AAV extension is waiting for Harbaugh in the offseason.

After going through three first-time head coaches in the Telesco era, Harbaugh’s reputation as a program and football culture builder is what the team needs at this juncture. As high as I am on someone like Lions OC Ben Johnson, he’d be an unknown commodity compared to the former Niners’ coach.

Unlike most coaches trying to make the jump from college to the pros, Harbaugh is a proven NFL winner, as previously mentioned. His run as the head coach of the 49ers ended with three NFC Championship games plus a Super Bowl appearance. Other college coaches have yet to match that production outside of Carroll. Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly, Kliff Kingsbury, Matt Rhule, etc., all failed in different ways after being unable to handle NFL HC responsibilities.

One thing that will be interesting to watch is personnel control. Harbaugh’s time in San Francisco was rather infamously ended after 2014 when the team failed to make the playoffs. Reportedly, tensions and differences with then GM Trent Baalke were too much to overcome. Will Harbaugh want to work under a GM or even a President of Football Operations like John Spanos? Or will he want complete control over personnel in acting as GM? What the Chargers are willing to give up in that regard could prove crucial to the hiring process if they are genuinely interested in him.

If the Chargers want an elite offense, Harbaugh and Lions OC Ben Johnson remain the top candidates. Pairing either of them with Justin Herbert makes sense in having a consistent structure on that side of the ball going forward. At some point, it would be nice for Herbert not to need a new play-caller or system from his time at Oregon almost every year.

Until after the College Football Playoff, Harbaugh’s candidacy remains a hypothetical until he decides on his future at Michigan. If truly available, the Chargers should interview him as part of a candidate cycle that looks much stronger than the 2021 field.

Interim HC Giff Smith keeping Chargers focused on finishing strong

Giff Smith spoke with the media for the first time since being named interim head coach.

Despite there not being much to play for, sitting at 5-9, Chargers interim head coach Giff Smith is making sure the team is staying focused for the final three games of the season.

“We’ve got a three-week season and we’re going to play to win.”

Smith takes over for Brandon Staley, who was fired after going 24-25 in nearly three seasons. He has been with the organization since 2016 when he started as the defensive line coach before becoming the outside linebackers coach in 2022.

Staley was let go following the embarrassing 63-21 loss to the Raiders last Thursday night. Instead of reflecting on that game, Smith and everyone else only has their eyes set on this Saturday’s contest against the Bills.

“It was embarrassing to everybody involved in it. I take that with me, since I’m the man in charge now. We’re moving past that,” he said. “We have three weeks to show the character of the men and the coaching staff that we are, to go out there and compete.”

After this weekend, the Chargers will be on the road to face the Broncos before finishing the season at home against the Chiefs.

As he gets ready for his first game as an NFL head coach, Smith has received advice from multiple people, but the best piece of advice has come from Chan Gailey, who had Smith on his staffs at Georgia Tech and the Bills

“I thought that Chan Gailey had a great one,” Smith said. “He said, ‘All of those suggestions and thoughts that you had are now decisions. Good luck.'”

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler sounds off on the firings of Brandon Staley, Tom Telesco

Austin Ekeler spoke on Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco being let go of.

Before being “America’s game,” the NFL was a business, which was made clear to Chargers running back Austin Ekeler after his team decided to let go of head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. 

“This is a business, and this is the business side,” Ekeler said Monday on the Ekeler’s Edge podcast. “It’s the ugly side of football. … You also learn that the business of the NFL is not safe for anyone — it’s straight production, or you get out of there.”

He felt blindsided by the firings of Staley and Telesco. Ekeler, along with his teammates, found out about their departures on social media like the rest of the world. 

“There’s anger, there’s confusion, but there’s also a sense of, ‘We gotta make sure we stay together,'” Ekeler said. “As a captain on the team, trying to keep people moving forward. … The game was clearly terrible for us.”

Contrary to popular belief, many players in the NFL are just as uninformed as the average sports fan. Nevertheless, they are the very people directly affected by the business side of the NFL—and it isn’t always in their favor. 

“As us players, we don’t know about any of this stuff,” Ekeler said. “They’re not calling us up like, ‘Hey, this is what happened.’ I’m finding out from Instagram and Twitter that Tom and Brandon had been let go. It’s something I’ve never had to deal with in any of my years playing football — where you actually get rid of a coach in the season.”

Ekeler felt particularly let down by Telesco’s exit, someone who he had established a close relationship with since he began his career as an undrafted free agent out of Western Colorado.

“It sucks,” Ekeler said. “Tom’s the reason I’m even here talking to you guys. Tom’s the guy that has the biggest part in setting that 90-man roster. He decided to put me on there No. 3, Austin Ekeler, back in the day a few years ago. My relationship with Tom, over the years, has been pretty tight because of that.

He obviously believed in me again to bring me back for another contract. … No one ever thought it would come down to what we’re going through right now.”

Like any business contract, each party is expected to hold up their end and in the NFL, players are responsible for competing at the level they agreed to perform at.

Unfortunately, this season hasn’t gone well for Ekeler as he has only scored six touchdowns and rushed for 506 yards. In two consecutive previous seasons, the 28-year-old was the touchdown leader. 

Although he considered leaving Los Angeles in the offseason after frustrations about being underpaid, Ekeler has a decision to make, whether that be to continue playing or even retire once the season is over. 

“This is my last year of the contract here,” the seventh-year running back said. “I have no idea what’s going to happen with me because I still have three games left. … It comes down to what’s the opportunity? I want to have the best opportunity for myself. Does that lie in football, or does that lie somewhere else? Because whatever I put myself in, I’m going to be all-in. It consumes me. I’m talking to my fiancee … do I lean into football? Do I lean into going post-career?

“It really comes down to what’s the situation? How does this look for us? Is it a one-year deal? Is it a two-year deal? What are we trying to do here? Is the money good? … This is going to be real life for me. … So these will be the conversations we will be having with GMs and putting it out there, but if we find a good situation, then absolutely coming back and tearing it up again.”