The Las Vegas Raiders were one of those teams that sacked their head coach in the middle of the regular season. The move was sudden but expected, as the team had only been on the losing end. Head Coach Josh Mcdaniels was kicked out of the franchise for failing to push his squad towards an upward trajectory.
While teams like the New England Patriots parted ways with their head coach and immediately hired a new person for the role, the Raiders banked on their interim coach, Antonio Pierce. He led the team to finish second in the AFC West with an 8-9 record. Although the franchise got out of the playoff race, a recent update says Pierce may be their head coach in the upcoming season.
Antonio Pierce reportedly leading Raiders HC candidate
After the Raiders closed their season with a resounding 27-14 win over the Denver Broncos, team owner Mark Davis expressed his enthusiasm for Antonio Pierce’s leadership. Davis said he was “really excited” about the veteran’s performance in guiding the team.
Recent reports from ESPN now suggest that Pierce is the frontrunner for the coveted head coaching role with the franchise. The team’s leadership is solidly behind him, who took on the responsibilities of interim head coach. Despite initial interest in Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, the Raiders have not conducted interviews with any coaching candidates. Should Pierce be their favored choice, they may need to accelerate the hiring process.
The vet finished the season with a 5-4 overall record and an impressive 3-1 division record. This performance helped secure the Raiders’ second-place finish in the AFC West with an 8-9 season record following a disappointing start.
Antonio Pierce’s coaching journey with the Raiders began in 2022, when he joined as the linebackers coach. Prior to this, he had a coaching career at Arizona State and held the head coaching position at the renowned high school football powerhouse, Long Beach Poly in California.
Raiders players back Pierce for Raiders HC job
The winds of change blew through the Raiders’ locker room when Antonio Pierce stepped into the interim head coach position after the departure of Josh McDaniels. With a rocky start to the season, his leadership style ignited a spark that resonated with the players.
The Raiders All-Pro wide receiver, who often seemed frustrated in the McDaniels era, has been a vocal supporter of Pierce.
“It’s obviously who I wanted, and he’s my vote. I’ve been vocal about that, and that’s basically how the whole locker room feels, and with good reason. He’s come in and done a great job.”
Pierce’s promotion marked a turning point as it lifted the team from a slump in both performance and spirit. The locker room, once plagued by frustration, found renewed energy and unity under his guidance. The team’s edge rusher, Maxx Crosby, highlighted the transformative effect on the team’s culture.
“When you have the right culture, a guy like A.P. that embraces the history of the Raiders, it’s special. A ton of legends consistently (show support) because of the amount of respect they have for him. So it makes you, as a player, want to go out there and show who you are. You want to be at that level one day.”
Crosby’s admiration was evident in his social media post, where he used the hashtag #HireAP, signaling his endorsement of making Pierce the permanent head coach. Even rumors circulated that the edge rusher might seek a trade if Pierce isn’t appointed as the full-time HC.
Who should become the next Raiders HC in your opinion? Let us know in the comments section.
