HENDERSON, Nevada According to a source familiar with the decision, the Raiders have decided to name Antonio Pierce as their next head coach and are in the final stages of closing the deal, which was reported by The Associated Press.
The individual spoke under anonymity because the team hasn’t released the information.
After Josh McDaniels was sacked on Halloween night, 45-year-old Pierce assumed interim coaching duties for Las Vegas. Under his leadership, the Raiders finished with a 5-4 record; as a team, they went 8-9 overall. From the start, the players supported him.
“Why wouldn’t we continue in the current path?” Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby stated following the team’s Jan. 7 27–14 victory over Denver. It’s difficult that in such a short period of time, we have united and accomplished something exceptional. We have a player who has excelled in his position, been a captain, won a Super Bowl, and is currently a fantastic coach and leader.
Pierce also gained the support of many fans. As the Broncos game came to an end, the audience erupted in “AP!”
Pierce will have the task of giving a once-famous team, which has missed the playoffs 19 times out of the previous 21 seasons, a championship pedigree.
Owner Mark Davis was not allowed to hire Pierce directly due to NFL hiring regulations. To meet the Rooney rule, Davis needed to conduct in-person interviews with a minimum of two external minority and/or female candidates. That was what he did.
Leslie Frazier, a former defensive coordinator for Buffalo, was interviewed by the Raiders. According to ESPN, the team also spoke with Kris Richard, a former co-defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints.
Pierce would have to make choices about his employees after taking the job. He had two options: look for another offensive coordinator, or stick with Bo Hardegree, who took over as interim coordinator following Mick Lombardi’s midseason firing.
In addition, Pierce would have to collaborate with the new general manager on matters pertaining to personnel, such as quarterback decisions. Aidan O’Connell, a rookie, was started by Pierce. Though he became better as the season went on, questions remained about whether the team needed a franchise quarterback. The top quarterbacks will probably be selected by the time the Raiders select, as they have the 13th pick in this year’s draft.
Josh Jacobs, the running back, needs his future to be decided as well. Following his 2022 NFL rush record-setting season, Jacobs and the Raiders’ application for the franchise tag sparked a contract disagreement. After training camp, the two parties decided on a one-year contract. This season, Jacobs’ output decreased from 1,653 yards to 805 yards, and he missed the last month due to a quadriceps ailment.
Antonio Pierce became the team’s temporary head coach when Josh McDaniels was dismissed by the Las Vegas Raiders on Halloween of last year. Few people thought Pierce would perform well enough to be given a chance to be considered for the head coaching position in Sin City.
Luckily for Pierce, he ended his brief tenure as the Raiders’ temporary head coach with a 5-4 record, winning three of his final four regular season games, and falling just short of qualifying for the NFL playoffs.
