SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Diego Chargers hired Tom Telesco from the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday to replace fired general manager A.J. Smith.
Team President Dean Spanos said hiring Telesco helps "to bring about positive change" for a team that missed the playoffs for three straight seasons and began losing a big piece of its fan base.
Telesco said at a news conference that he wants to instill "a culture and foundation for consistent winning."
Telesco, 40, spent the last 15 seasons with the Colts, most recently as vice president of football operations. He had a hand in the moves that helped the Colts go from 2-14 in 2011 to 11-5 and the playoffs this year, including taking quarterback Andrew Luck with the first pick in April's draft.
Telesco, who beat out Jimmy Raye, the Chargers' director of player personnel, becomes the youngest GM in team history.
Before beginning the task of rebuilding the Chargers, he'll help select a new coach to replace Norv Turner, who was fired along with Smith on Dec. 31.
Hiring Telesco could give an inside edge to Bruce Arians, the Colts' offensive coordinator who went 9-3 as interim head coach while Chuck Pagano underwent treatment for leukemia.
