Telesco began his career as an intern for the Buffalo Bills from 1991 to 1994, a scout for the Carolina Panthers from 1995 to 1997 and was also in various positions with the Indianapolis Colts from 1998 to 2012, the last six years of which he was the team's director of player personnel and vice president of football operations.
Tom Telesco grew up in Hamburg, New York and attended St. Francis High School, where he graduated in 1991.
On January 9, 2013, Chargers President Dean Spanos chose Tom Telesco as the team's new general manager.
[1] He was fired on December 15, 2023, after 11 years with the team, along with coach Brandon Staley, following a lopsided loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, which ended in a 63–21 defeat.
The two knew each other from their days at St. Francis High School, John Carroll University as well as when they were Colts executives.
When he was playing for the Blue Streaks football team he was also teammates with Chris Polian and Greg Roman.