Report: Colts Hire Jimmy Raye To Replace Tom Telesco In Front Office

Former-Colts vice president of football operations Tom Telesco beat out one-time Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye III for the open general manager job in San Diego. The job was considered Raye's to lose considering that A) He's a well-respected front office executive, and B) He was already on the job in San Diego.

Once Telesco was given the GM spot, there was little point in Raye sticking around.

Today, news broke, via Jim Trotter, that Raye has been hired by the Indianapolis Colts as... wait for it... the Colts director of football operations.

Raye is, effectively, replacing Tom Telesco in Indianapolis as general manager Ryan Grigson's right hand man.

As recently as last week, Telesco told San Diego media that he "absolutely, positively" wanted to retain Raye in the Chargers front office. It's safe to say, based on a source we've talked to, that the feeling wasn't quite mutual.

Raye was on a short lists last season for open GM jobs, including the Chicago Bears. His name always seemed to get floated around every year when a team fired their top man in the front office. Like Grigson, Raye is a former player turned front office exec. He is the son of former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye II.

Raye had been a part of the Chargers organization as far back as 1996. He spent four years (1996-1999) as a scout and eight years (2000-2007) as director of college scouting before getting promoted to director of player personnel.

Safe to say that the Spanos Family passing him over for Telesco probably did not sit well with Raye. Thus, he is now in Indianapolis. This is a strong hire by Jim Irsay, Ryan Grigson, and the front office.

And I'm willing to bet that Raye is just a tad bit motivated to stick it to the Spanos Family and the Chargers for not hiring him as their general manager.

[UPDATE]: And now it's official.

“We’re excited to be adding someone as high caliber as Jimmy Raye to the Colts organization” said Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson. “He has a strong football pedigree, is highly intelligent, and is a top notch evaluator along with being a great human being. I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves with him this offseason as we hit the ground running into free agency, the draft, and beyond.”