Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders have fired general manager Tom Telesco after one season, the team announced Thursday.
The move came two days after the team fired coach Antonio Pierce after his first full season as coach.
“We appreciate (Telesco’s) efforts in helping us build a foundation for the future. We wish Tom and his family all the best,” the team said in a statement.
Season GM2019-21 Mike Mayock 2022-23 Dave Ziegler 2023 Champ Kelly (interim) 2024 Tom Telesco — ESPN Research
The Raiders finished this season with 4 wins and 13 losses, hampered by QB uncertainty. Telesco signed Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million, $15 million guaranteed contract. Minshew started the season as a starter, but was moved to the bench after five games to be replaced by Aidan O’Connell. Minshew and O’Connell were plagued by injuries during the season, forcing the team to also start Desmond Ridder.
The Raiders hired Telesco, 52, last January, less than six weeks after he and coach Brandon Staley were fired by the Los Angeles Chargers following a 63-21 loss to Las Vegas. It was done.
Telesco was taken in part because of his success in the draft, ensuring he was a top-three pick for the Raiders last spring.
Rather than pick to fill a need, he decided to go with the best player available, selecting tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th pick. He set an NFL rookie single-season receiving record with 112 catches and was named to the Pro Bowl.
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In the second round, Telesco drafted offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, starting games at left guard and center.
Then, in the third round, Telesco took DJ Glaze, who settled into a starting role at right tackle, the Raiders’ position of greatest need going into the draft.
Injuries have made the Raiders’ roster this season, as 31.8% of Las Vegas’ Week 1 starters spent time on injured reserve (the highest percentage in the league), and the team had the second-youngest roster, according to the team. caused havoc. In the NFL (average age 25 years, 344 days), 37.6% of snaps played were by first- or second-year players (third-highest mark in the league).
The Raiders, led by Telesco and Pierce, have lost 10 straight games, their longest 0-10 season since the start of the 2014 season.
Las Vegas also played against the AFC West for the first time since 2006 and fell to 0-6.
The new general manager and coaching duo will inherit the No. 6 draft pick and an additional third-round draft pick from the New York Jets as part of the Davante Adams trade.
The new GM and coach will likely work with the Raiders’ new minority owners Tom Brady and Richard Seymour. Both acquired the franchise owned by Mark Davis this fall.
The Raiders’ new general manager is also expected to have $107.3 million in salary cap space, including edge rushers K’Lavon Chaisson and Malcolm Coons, linebacker Robert Spillane and cornerback Devine Diablo. Many decisions have to be made regarding in-house free agents, including; Nate Hobbs, safeties Marcus Epps and Trevon Mehrig, running backs Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah.
The Raiders have a number of head coaching interviews scheduled following Pierce’s firing, including Pete Carroll, who will interview with the team next week, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
