Tom Telesco Puts Blame On Las Vegas Raiders For 2024 Failure

Tom Telesco’s brief stint as general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders was defined by a disconnect between long-term vision and short-term reality. Hired to steady a franchise transitioning under first-time head coach Antonio Pierce, the former Chargers executive brought pedigree, poise—and ultimately, a puzzling lack of urgency. Less than a year later, both he and Pierce were out.

Telesco recently addressed his Raiders tenure on the Check the Mic podcast, offering a blend of justification, subtle deflection, and retrospective clarity. While he acknowledged missteps, he also made it clear: he didn’t expect the rug to be pulled so soon.

“Big-picture-wise, we’re building this for the future,” Telesco said. “I’m thinking I’m gonna be there at least for a little while, the head coach will be there for a little while. Our infrastructure was not where it needed to be yet.”

The remark, framed as an explanation, also served as a thinly veiled critique. Telesco believed he was brought in to construct a foundation—not deliver immediate results. But the Raiders, fresh off a 4-13 season and desperate for relevance, didn’t share his timeline.

A QB Gamble That Backfired For Las Vegas Raiders

NFL: Combine
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The most glaring issue during Telesco’s tenure was the quarterback situation. In a loaded 2024 draft class, Las Vegas stood at pick No. 13, well outside the range for blue-chip passers. Jayden Daniels—the one quarterback Telesco said they truly coveted—was long gone by then, drafted No. 2 by Washington en route to an NFC Championship Game and Rookie of the Year honors.

“Like Jayden Daniels, that one would’ve been easy,” Telesco admitted. “But to give up that many assets… we need as many as possible to build up the team.”

That may be true, but in hindsight, Telesco’s decision to pass on all other quarterback options—and instead sign veteran Gardner Minshew—was a calculated risk that failed miserably. Minshew was overmatched from the jump, and Las Vegas never found an offensive rhythm. When Telesco later said, “If I knew I only had one year, maybe that would’ve been different,” it revealed a fundamental misread of his situation: building for the future doesn’t matter if you don’t survive the present.

Draft Success, But Not Enough

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To Telesco’s credit, his first (and only) draft class was impressive. Tight end Brock Bowers—taken at No. 13—emerged as an All-Pro rookie and a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The team also found immediate contributors in offensive linemen Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze. It was a strong foundation.

But foundational pieces mean little without a franchise quarterback to tie it together. The conservative posture Las Vegas took—passing on Bo Nix, J.J. McCarthy, and Michael Penix Jr., despite strong evaluations of at least one—was a fatal flaw. Nix went one pick before the Raiders to division rival Denver and led them to the playoffs. Penix landed in Atlanta, where he’s set to take over the reins from Kirk Cousins. McCarthy, now in Minnesota, may soon prove the Raiders wrong as well.

Telesco was firm about their reservations.

“Taking a quarterback that high, that has to be a concern,” he said of Penix’s injury history. He spoke more favorably about Nix: “Bo Nix would’ve been a good possibility,” he noted, before lamenting that the Broncos beat them to it.

Those explanations, while reasonable in isolation, collectively paint a picture of a GM who played it too safe when boldness was required.

A Blame Game in the Rearview Mirror

NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders
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Ultimately, Telesco’s podcast comments read like a postmortem laced with regret—but also self-exoneration. He made clear he thought he deserved more time, more patience, and more latitude. But in the NFL, especially in a market like Las Vegas, the margin for error is razor-thin.

The Raiders’ new regime—led by veteran coach Pete Carroll and GM John Spytek—has embraced a more aggressive, accountable tone. With Geno Smith now under center and a revamped roster, there’s optimism that the franchise is finally heading in a coherent direction.

Telesco, meanwhile, joins a rare group: a general manager fired twice after failing to build sustainable winners. His methodical, measured approach worked in spurts—just ask Justin Herbert, whom he drafted with the Chargers—but it ultimately fell short in delivering lasting success.

His Raiders tenure, short as it was, offers a cautionary tale: in a results-driven league, there’s little grace for long-term architects who ignore the urgency of now.

As Telesco himself said with a resigned shrug:

“Hey, welcome to the NFL.”

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