Raiders hire Telesco to be their new general manager
The Las Vegas Raiders hired Tom Telesco on Tuesday as their next general manager, passing over interim Champ Kelly for the position.
Kelly could remain as the assistant general manager, the position he held under Dave Ziegler, who was fired Oct. 31. Kelly then was given the interim title and was believed to be a strong candidate to get the job full time.
Telesco, 51, comes from the AFC West rival Chargers, where he was the general manager since 2013. The Chargers fired Telesco and coach Brandon Staley on Dec. 15, a day after the Chargers lost 63-21 at Las Vegas.
Telesco drafted eight Pro Bowl players, including quarterback Justin Herbert, wide receiver Keenan Allen and defensive end Joey Bosa. But the Chargers went 8695 during his tenure, making the playoffs three times and never winning a divisional title.
He hired three first-year coaches, so going to the Raiders will be familiar in that way for Telesco. Antonio Pierce had the interim title removed Friday, making him the full-time coach.
Telesco's top priority will be deciding what to do at quarterback. Rookie Aidan
O'Connell became the starter when Pierce took over, and though he led the Raiders to a 5-4 record over that time, his inconsistency created real doubts that he was the franchise quarterback.
Bears hire Waldron as offensive coordinator
The Chicago Bears hired Shane Waldron as their offensive coordinator on Tuesday, hoping he can get the most out of Justin Fields or a new quarterback if they draft one with the No. 1 overall pick.
Waldron joins coach Matt Eberflus' staff after spending the past three seasons as offensive coordinator under Pete Carroll in Seattle. He replaces Luke Getsy, who was fired after two years.
With the Seahawks, Waldron called plays for an offense led by Russell Wilson in 2021. He then helped quarterback Geno Smith go from a journeyman to AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2022 after passing for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The Seahawks ranked 21st in total offense, 14th in passing and 17th in scoring this season.
Vinovich to lead Super Bowl officiating crew
Veteran referee Bill Vinovich
will lead the officiating crew for the Super Bowl next month in Las Vegas.
The NFL announced Tuesday that Vinovich will work his third Super Bowl and be joined by a crew that includes umpire Terry Killens, down judge Patrick Holt, line judge Mark Perlman, field judge Tom Hill, side judge Allen Baynes, back judge Brad Freeman and replay official Mike Chase.
Killens will become the first person to both play in and officiate a Super Bowl. Killens made one tackle on special teams for the Tennessee Titans against the St. Louis Rams on Jan. 30, 2000.
The league selects officials on merit for the Super Bowl, so Vinovich isn't working with his regular crew. Vinovich was the referee for a controversial call in the NFC championship game in January 2019.
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman should have been flagged for defensive pass interference and a helmet-to-helmet penalty on New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis late in the fourth quarter of a game the Rams won in overtime.
The league later acknowledge the blown non-call and changed rules for one season, allowing teams to challenge pass-interference penalties.