The Las Vegas Raiders’ unexpected general manager hiring sends shockwaves around the NFL
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Vegas has hired former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco for the same role in Southern Nevada.
Telesco, 51, joined Chargers head coach Brandon Staley in being fired this past season after 11 years with the organization. He had become an embattled figure in Southern California with the Chargers earning just three playoff appearances while winning five games or less a total of four times.
Telesco has a whole host of experience within NFL front offices. In addition to being the Chargers’ general manager from 2013-23, he served in different roles with the Indianapolis Colts (2001-12), Carolina Panthers (1995-97) and Buffalo Bills (1991-94).
Apparently, the Raiders’ brass valued that with inexperienced interim head coach Antonio Pierce taking the full-time role.
Either way, this move is unlikely to sit well with Raider Nation. Interim general manager Champ Kelly was seen as the favorite to take over the full-time role after sitting in on head coach interviews throughout the process. Indianapolis Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds was also seen as a finalist to land the job.
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Las Vegas Raiders set to interview troubling candidate for their offensive coordinator opening
The Las Vegas Raiders and their choice to interview Luke Getsy, the former offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears, for a similar role on Antonio Pierce’s coaching staff has generated mixed reactions in the sports world. Getsy’s time with the Bears was marked by a lack of success, ultimately leading to his dismissal after the 2023 season.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported the interview on Tuesday.
During his tenure in Chicago, the Bears offense struggled. They finished 28th in offense in 2022 and only slightly improved to 20th in 2023. Despite a solid finish to the 2023 season, the Bears decided to move on from Getsy and a majority of the offensive staff.
“The growth and the development of the offense, to me, needed to be better than where it was,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said earlier this month when Getsy was fired.
One major criticism of Getsy was his inability to tailor the offense to quarterback Justin Fields’ strengths. Early season play designs failed to create opportunities for receivers, resulting in Fields being perceived as a passer who relied excessively on his running ability.
Despite some bright moments for Fields and the Bears’ offense, Getsy’s playcalling was generally considered too conservative for the Bears’ offense. Injuries complicated matters with Fields during the season, but even when healthy under Luke Getsy, they struggled against high-quality teams – reinforcing doubts about his ability to turn things around in 2024.
The Raiders’ decision to interview Luke Getsy is perplexing as some more appealing names have been associated with the role. Those include former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury and Rams quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Zac Robinson.
Despite the perception surrounding his time in Chicago, Getsy does bring valuable NFL experience to the table. His familiarity with Justin Fields could also be why he is worth talking to if you’re Antonio Pierce. The Raiders could be one of several suitors for the young quarterback should Chicago look to trade him ahead of the NFL Draft. The Bears are expected to take USC superstar quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick.
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