‘Just win baby, just win’.
A deal is now in place for the interim tag to be lifted and Antonio Pierce is sticking with the Silver and Black.
The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to terms with Pierce to make him their next head coach, NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported Friday afternoon, per sources.
Rapoport noted that the first order of business for Pierce as head coach will be shoring up the offensive side of the football, as the majority of coaches will not be brought back, including interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree.
Pierce’s hiring comes after a somewhat turbulent start to the season, as he coached the Raiders to a 5-4 finish to the 2023 campaign as the interim coach following Josh McDaniels’ dismissal on Halloween night. That was a treat for the team.
Two years ago, owner Mark Davis made the controversial decision to hire McDaniels rather than retain then-interim coach Rich Bisaccia, who pumped life into the team and guided them to a playoff spot. He is now the Green Bay Packers special teams coach.
This time, Davis chose to lean on the advice and words of his players, and has decided to make his interim coach the full-fledged leader of the Raiders moving forward. In doing so, Davis has made Pierce just the third interim head coach in the past decade to become that team’s full-time coach the following season, along with Mike Mularkey (Tennessee Titans) and Doug Marrone (Jacksonville Jaguars).
Pierce also had a meeting with the Titans, who parted ways with Mike Vrabel after six years due to a difference of philosophy with him and the GM, and the Atlanta Falcons to fill their vacant head coaching position, but it was highly unlikely that he would leave ‘Sin City’ and the franchise he grew up rooting for.
Fulling enthralling himself in the Raider culture and Silver and Black swagger, Pierce earned the respect and loyalty of the locker room right away this past season. He coached them to memorable victories, such as a win over the New York Football Giants in his debut, a 42-point drubbing, 63-21, of the Los Angeles Chargers and a streak-snapping triumph over their arch rival Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 45-year-old grabbed the bull by the horns and took on his interim role with little NFL coaching experience. Prior to coaching the Raiders for the last nine games of this past campaign, Pierce was in the middle of his second season with the club as its linebackers coach. Prior to that, Pierce was a defensive assistant and coordinator at Arizona State under Herm Edwards following his time as head coach of Long Beach Poly High in California.
An NFL linebacker for nine seasons with the Washington Commanders and the Giants from 2001-2009, Pierce was a hard-nosed player who earned a Pro Bowl nod and a Super Bowl win.
In his short stint with the Raiders, he proved to be the complete opposite of McDaniels, evoking energy, volume and toughness to the club.
Players such as wide receiver Davante Adams and edge rusher Maxx Crosby have publicly voiced their support for Pierce. It should make for a smoother start for Pierce, but he has plenty on his plate to accomplish.
No. 1 will be a decision at quarterback. Prior to the 2023 campaign, the Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo, who had a long history with McDaniels when they were both with the New England Patriots. Garoppolo has a $28.5 million cap number in 2024 with $11.25 million guaranteed. Pierce went with rookie Aidan O’Connell as his starter, and though the rookie signal caller had some flashes of greatness, he certainly is not the long term answer to build the offense around.
Running back Josh Jacobs, who was on the shelf at the conclusion of the season with a quad injury, is set to become a free agent, as well.
The Raiders have made the postseason just twice over the past 21 seasons and has not won a division title or a playoff game since 2002.
Now, Pierce has earned the full-time job and will look to return the organization to its glory days when the Raiders conquered and won consistently.
