The Las Vegas Raiders have fired general manager Tom Telesco, the team announced on Thursday.
Raiders Fire GM Tom Telesco
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 9, 2025
“The Las Vegas Raiders have relieved Tom Telesco of his duties as General Manager,” the team said in a statement. “We appreciate his efforts in helping build a foundation for the future. We wish Tom and his family all the best.”
Telesco’s dismissal comes two days after the Raiders fired head coach Antonio Pierce. Pierce was coming off his first full season as head coach.
The Raiders hired Telesco as their general manager in January 2024. Telesco previously served as the Los Angeles Chargers general manager from 2013 to 2023.
Ironically, the Chargers fired Telesco in November 2023 after an embarrassing 63-21 loss to the Raiders.
The move is a bit of a surprise, considering Telesco’s success in last year’s draft. The Raiders drafted tight end Brock Bowers in round one, offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, and right tackle DJ Glaze.
The Bowers’ selection was a home run. The Georgia product set the NFL rookie single-season receiving record with 112 catches. Powers-Johnson and Glaze settled in as starters on the Raiders’ offensive line.
Quarterback was the biggest problem for the Raiders. Telesco signed Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract. Minshew started the season with Aidan O’Connell as his backup. Both quarterbacks were benched at various points and missed games due to injuries. The Raiders then brought in Desmond Ridder at the end of the season.
Raiders Going With Clean Reset
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Raiders fired GM Tom Telesco in an effort to find alignment between Tom Brady, the new GM and the new coach. pic.twitter.com/1eubSfLbMz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2025
With the firing of Telesco, the Raiders now have a clean reset at coach and general manager. The New York Jets are the other team that needs a new coach and general manager.
The Raiders finished the 2024 campaign with a 4-13 record. The team experienced a 10-game losing streak, their longest since 2014.
The Raiders also went winless against the AFC West for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The new general manager will inherit the No. 6 pick in the draft and approximately $107.3 million in salary cap space.
The Raiders will now form a committee to interview candidates and support Mark Davis. One of the committee members will be Raiders Limited owner Tom Brady.
Raiders limited owner Tom Brady is expected to be part of a collaborative committee to interview head coaching candidates and support team owner Mark Davis, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/0xyl0kAYv3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2025
