Is Third Time The Charm? Chargers GM Tom Telesco Begins Hiring Process For His Third Head Coach

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco thanked Anthony Lynn for his four years as head coach and mentioned why Lynn deserves another head coaching gig. As for why it didn’t work with the Chargers, Telesco didn’t say much besides that the team didn’t win enough under Lynn the past two seasons. “The one thing I don’t want to get lost here is, because he is such a great human being, Anthony is an excellent football coach,” Telesco said Wednesday, two days after the Chargers fired Lynn.
Lynn had a winning regular- season record of 33-31 in his four seasons with the Chargers and went 1-1 in the playoffs. Telesco can’t say he has a winning record with the Chargers because they’re 60-68 in eight seasons with him making personnel decisions. The Chargers have been to the postseason twice, but have never won an AFC West title under Telesco. But Telesco was the one speaking for the team in a video news conference with reporters Wednesday while Lynn was at home without a job. “I think when you look at our team, you can see we have an opportunity to ascend and ascend quickly,” Telesco said, explaining why he’s still the team’s GM. Telesco avoided saying it, but team management made it obvious when they dismissed Lynn that they didn’t believe they could make that quick ascension with Lynn calling the shots. The Chargers, who haven’t won a division title since 2009, were 12-20 the past two seasons (with a 7-16 mark in one-possession games) and started this season 3-9 before ending on a four-game winning streak.

Telesco drafted star quarterback Justin Herbert sixth overall in April’s draft — although Lynn and his coaching staff helped groom him. Telesco also drafted defensive end Joey Bosa, wide receiver Keenan Allen and safety Derwin James, though a lot of his freeagent signings have been plagued by injuries (cornerback Chris Harris, guard Trai Turner and offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, the team’s three significant offseason acquisitions, missed 20 games). They also have a healthy 2021 salary cap situation with more than $30 million in projected cap space. “It’s been two years since we made the playoffs, two years since we won a playoff game, but as you move into 2021,” Telesco said, “it’s really going to be an unprecedented salary cap situation where the cap is actually going to go down, which it never has before. Despite that, we’re in a very healthy position there. I think that’s a big positive.” They have a window to take advantage of a strong defensive core with a star quarterback on a rookie contract. And as the Dallas Cowboys found out with Dak Prescott and the Rams with Jared Goff, that tab to pay for a top quarterback’s services arrives quickly.

Perhaps owner Dean Spanos felt the Chargers were a head coach away from being a true AFC contender and that could explain why Telesco is still with the team instead of going into a full rebuild. Many players will likely return because Telesco drafted all of them besides defensive end Melvin Ingram, who is scheduled to be a free agent. Not many general managers get a third opportunity to hire a head coach, but Telesco won’t have the final say on which candidate to hire. That belongs to Dean Spanos. “He’s the owner,” Telesco said. “He has the final voice, and he’s never shied away from tough decisions.” Telesco has already started the interview process, but he declined to say how many coaches have already interviewed.

The Chargers have reportedly asked permission to interview Brandon Staley (Rams), Joe Brady (Panthers), Brian Daboll (Bills), Matt Eberflus (Colts), Robert Saleh (49ers), Arthur Smith (Titans) and Jason Garrett (Giants). They’re also reportedly interested in former college coach Urban Meyer, who won three national championships with Florida (2006, 2008) and Ohio State (2014). The Chargers have already interviewed Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “I’m not going to comment on anybody that we have interviewed or will interview,” Telesco said when asked how the interview with Bieniemy went. Many view Daboll, the offensive coordinator for the Bills, as the frontrunner because he went to high school with Telesco in Hamburg, New York. “Yes, we did go to the same high school,” Telesco said. “We’re from the same hometown. But I wouldn’t read (too much) into where you’re from or what high school you went to.”

Article By Gilbert Manzano Orange County Register
gmanzano@scng.com @gmanzano24 on Twitter