“Nepotism qualified”: Fans outraged after Raiders hire Antonio Pierce’s son DeAndre Pierce as assistant OC

The Las Vegas Raiders ended their 2023 season with a lackluster performance. They missed the playoff race, despite bouncing back for a while midseason. The team will now enter the 2024 season with promising offensive talent. However, their success on that side of the ball will largely depend on the upcoming hiring decision for the offensive room.

The Raiders have already moved on from Josh McDaniels and hired Antonio Pierce as their new head coach. They also appointed Tom Telesco as general manager. Pierce, fresh off securing his head coaching gig for the Silver and Black, is now hiring his son DeAndre Pierce in his O-line.

Raiders hire Deandre Pierce as assistant OC

The Raiders are now bringing in DeAndre Pierce as an assistant offensive coach. The hiring decision comes as part of head coach Antonio Pierce’s effort to assemble a staff he is intimately familiar with.

Prior to joining the Raiders, DeAndre Pierce honed his coaching skills as a defensive quality control coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2023. His journey to coaching was influenced by his playing days. He was a standout defensive back at Long Beach Poly High School and later at Arizona State University, where he played under his father’s guidance.

Antonio’s son was then transferred to Boise State University. He continued to excel on the field, contributing 144 combined tackles, seven for losses, an interception, six passes defensed, and a sack throughout 35 games. His collegiate career was adorned with two conference championships.

DeAndre ventured into the coaching circuit after graduating. He started with a stint at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Now, he embarks on a new chapter in his coaching journey with the Raiders. The former footballer will serve as an assistant offensive coach under the leadership of newly appointed offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy. Getsy’s arrival follows his departure from the Chicago Bears, where he served as the offensive coordinator.

Fans furious with Raiders hiring DeAndre Pierce

Antonio Pierce’s choice to bring on DeAndre Pierce as an assistant offensive coach has sparked accusations of nepotism. Fans are expressing frustration by arguing that coaching positions should be awarded based on merit rather than familial connections.

A fan wrote, “Nepotism qualified.”

Another user wrote, “Nepotism is fun.”

This isn’t the first instance of such family ties in coaching positions within the NFL. Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick appointed his children to coaching roles like others. Belichick’s sons, Stephen and Brian, have served as assistant coaches for the Patriots. Even his daughter Amanda has been at the helm of the Holy Cross women’s lacrosse program for nearly a decade.

However, Belichick was heavily criticized for his hiring. Even the Pats’ new HC Jerod Mayo demoted Stephen after taking over his role. Meanwhile, some point out that the outrage over Pierce’s decision was not there among fans when Belichick appointed his children in his staff.

A netizen wrote, “Wonder if the cries of nepotism will be as loud as they were for bellichecks boy. Prolly not im guessing.”

What’s your take on the Raiders new hiring? Tell us in the comments.