Once the Las Vegas Raiders fired Dave Ziegler from his role as general manager, Champ Kelly was the natural choice. He had previously interviewed for the job and then became assistant general manager. He also filled in as general manager after Ziegler was let go.
However, owner Mark Davis decided to go with someone else and selected Tom Telesco as general manager. Kelly interviewed for other general manager positions but didn’t get an offer and chose to keep his assistant general manager role with the Raiders.
After spending the last few months under Telesco, Kelly finally discussed the team’s decision to not promote him.
“When we first got together, [Telesco] laid out expectations for me and I was open with him about how I saw the team and some of the needs and areas where I saw room for improvement,” Kelly said of working with Telesco at a press conference on May 8. “I was able to set aside my ego and prioritize the team. It’s not about me, it’s really about Raider Nation, the alumni, and putting forth our best effort to win football games for this city and Raider Nation.
“But Tom is easy to talk to, and I think ultimately, he wants the best for me, and I want the best for him and this football team. … And hopefully we’ll continue to build trust as we work together and win some football games together.”
Although it didn’t happen this year, Kelly will probably have the opportunity to be a general manager in the near future.
Champ Kelly Applauds Scouting Department
It’s been a challenging past few months for the Raiders scouting department. When a general manager is let go, there are usually many changes to staff when a new one is hired. Kelly made a special effort to commend the work that the scouts did leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I think it’s a testament to the scouts because the quality of work they did throughout the fall was so good that he could come in and really understand their work and also understand how they saw the players that were eligible for the draft,” Kelly said. “I’ve been through multiple systems now and regardless of the language used, ultimately all you’re doing is evaluating a position group, and then you’re comparing that position group with other position groups. It doesn’t matter what system you’re using, all we are trying to do is find the best players and the best Raiders for us.”
Champ Kelly Has High Regard for Brock Bowers
The Raiders weren’t expected to be looking for a tight end during the 2024 NFL Draft but surprised everyone by selecting tight end Brock Bowers with the No. 13 pick. He was seen as one of the top prospects in the draft but dropped down the draft board because tight end wasn’t a crucial need for many teams.
Kelly elaborated on the thinking behind drafting Bowers.
“Yeah, I think my wife could watch the tape on Brock and be excited about him,” Kelly said. “He’s a really talented football player and had a lot of success in college. His position is tight end, but we see him as a playmaker and offensive weapon.”
If Bowers becomes an All-Pro, no one will be mad at the Raiders for bringing in a tight end even though they didn't require one.
