The Las Vegas Raiders are cleaning house! Just days after firing head coach Antonio Pierce, they’ve now given general manager Tom Telesco the boot as well.1 It seems like the Raiders are hitting the reset button after a disappointing 4-13 season.
This is the second time in just over a year that Telesco has been fired by an AFC West team. He was let go by the Chargers in December 2023 after a long stint as their general manager.2 The Raiders scooped him up last January, hoping he could bring some stability to their front office. But after just one season, it’s clear that things weren’t working out.
The Raiders have been on a bit of a GM merry-go-round lately. Since firing Reggie McKenzie in 2018, they’ve had four different general managers. It’s tough to build a winning team when you’re constantly changing leadership.
One of the biggest issues for the Raiders this season was their quarterback situation. They signed Gardner Minshew, but he struggled and was eventually benched in favor of Aidan O’Connell.3 Both quarterbacks dealt with injuries, forcing the Raiders to start Desmond Ridder as well. It was a revolving door under center, and it clearly hurt their chances of success.
Despite the team’s struggles, Telesco did have some success in the draft. He snagged tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick, and Bowers went on to have a record-breaking rookie season.4 He also drafted offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson and tackle DJ Glaze, both of whom showed promise.5
But the Raiders were plagued by injuries this season. Over 30% of their Week 1 starters spent time on injured reserve, and their young roster struggled to compete. They endured a 10-game losing streak, their longest since 2014, and went winless in the AFC West.6
Now, the Raiders are looking for a new GM and head coach to lead them into the future. They’ve got the No. 6 pick in the upcoming draft, plus an extra third-round pick from the Jets, and over $100 million in cap space. They’ve also got some big decisions to make about their free agents, including several key players on defense and their running back duo.
It’s a fresh start for the Raiders, and with new minority owners Tom Brady and Richard Seymour on board, there’s a sense of optimism in the air. The Raiders have the resources to turn things around, and it’ll be fascinating to see who they bring in to lead the charge.
