Having started out 2-0 after the firings of Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler, the Raiders saw a turnaround under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. The latter’s change in attitude regarding the locker room has been well received throughout the organization, something which could help his chances (and those of interim GM Champ Kelly) of remaining in place beyond 2023. 
Pierce had no experience as a head coach at the college or NFL levels prior to his Vegas appointment. As a result, the 45-year-old has turned to a veteran in search of advice during the early days of his time at the helm of the Raiders. Pierce has consulted with Tom Coughlin for advice, reports Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Pierce played for Coughlin’s Giants for much of his career.
Heading into Week 11, the system in place for the Raiders has been not only player-friendly but also effective. Vegas won games against the Giants and Jets, teams which will offer less of a challenge than future opponents on the Raiders’ schedule. Still, the improved atmosphere around the organization has been telling for players, staffers and front office personnel. Both Jones and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport report owner Mark Davis is pleased with the early showings of the Pierce era.
That is particularly signficant given recent Raiders history. In the wake of Jon Gruden‘s scandal-induced resignation in 2021, Rich Bisaccia was given the head coaching position on an interim basis. The latter guided the team to the postseason, but he was allowed to depart to Green Bay while McDaniels was hired to replace him. By Year Two of the Patriots-flavored regime, though, another change had been made. Jones reports that Davis has since come to regret not giving Bisaccia the full-time gig, so a continuation of the team’s recent success by Pierce would greatly bolster his case for being tapped as McDaniels’ long-term successor.
While the early results have been encouraging, there are still questions in the organization regarding how far a much more player-centric environment can go, as noted by Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required). Stiffer tests (beginning with today’s close loss in Miami) will go a long way in determining the Raiders’ fate with respect to postseason contention or at least development from rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who is in place as the starter moving forward.
Davis did not lay out specific targets for the Pierce-Kelly pairing to meet during their time at the helm of the organization, but the door appears to be open to them staying in place for the foreseeable future. With Davis already on the hook for the McDaniels and Ziegler firings at a cost of $85MM (at least before offsets brought on by new employers), it will be interesting to see how aggressively he pursues outside options in the offseason as opposed to reversing his actions from the Bisaccia situation.
‘…Pierce had no experience as a head coach at the college or NFL levels prior to his Vegas appointment…’
Yet not a single bit of outrage like there was last year when the Colts brought Saturday, same experience level. Why not?
I hope Pierce does well, just hate the double standard.
Because Pierce was a darn coordinator ON THE TEAM.
So? 6-7 games as DC qualifies you?
Pierce also coached a top high school program and coached on a staff in college. He has experience coaching players, Saturday had none.
Come on, you’re using his high school resume?
My whole point is when a team fires midseason, clearly what they were doing wasn’t working. It’s time to think outside the box. They need new plans, plays, assistants, energy, thought process etc. I bet over 80% of interim HC’s don’t get hired, so why not try something unorthodox?
Both Pierce and Saturday were captains and SB winning players. I fully get why they were hired as interims. And Saturday has a professional relationship in Indy. Now if he had been hired FT (which was widely speculated/reported could happen) then yes, I can see the controversy.
Like I say, I hope Pierce works out or at least is given a true chance to show his coaching skills and interview.
Pierce had/ has WAY more experience than Saturday. Night and day. Youre upset over apples and oranges. Saturday was a HS coach for a few seasons. That it. No other levels. And it was not a power HS program such as Long Beach Poly (where Pierce was the HC)
Pierce was a HC in HS for 5 season. A DC at a D1 college for several seasons. Adding titles of Associate HC and he was the recruiting coordinator for the program as well. He then went to the NFL as a LB coach last season and part of this season.
FAR different than Saturday. In fact, come to think of it, I have more coaching experience than Jeff Saturday. Maybe the Colts should’ve hired me. Hence the outrage.
@arty!: “Come on, you’re using his high school resume?”
The irony of you saying this derisively about Pierce when coaching a high school team was literally the only coaching experience Jeff Saturday had at any level. Saturday was never a positions coach or coordinator anywhere. He coached 36 games of high school football and was on TV before being gifted the Colts job. There’s a huge difference between him and Antonio Pierce. You’re just refusing to see it.
We’ll find out. I think Pierce has 4 winnable games to finish the season. Vikings (B/U QB), Chargers, Colts (B/U QB) and Broncos.
As I’ve said all post, I hope he succeeds. I’m ready to see the Raiders relevant again. But Antonio limited amount of time in the NFL as a coach. That’s the whole point.
We all know the game from high school to college to the Pros is vastly different.
Pierce was the LB coach. Patrick Graham is the Raider DC and has been for 2 seasons.
Pierce was on the staff already and Saturday was on ESPN?…I may be way off on that, but sounds right I think. I definitely get it if so
Pierce was on the staff, for a few games prior to taking over.
Exactly…you just answered your own inquiry. Jeff Saturday was a commentator on ESPN the week before, big difference.
Breaking down pro game tapes of all 32 teams FT. Just like coaches do. If he had been in another profession and then called back into the NFL, sure I would get the outrage. But he was fully engulfed in the game professionally.
Arty, this is the dumbest argument ever. You are clearly wrong
Pierce has quite a few winnable games. Chiefs, Vikings, Chargers, Chiefs, Colts, and Broncos to end the season.
All but the Chiefs, should be evenly based games for Antonio.
It’ll be fun to see it play out.
They will be a dog against KC both games, and about pick-em in the other four. They can win a couple, but this is not a good team. Their record mostly reflects how weak their schedule is. I think their opposition was playing .280 last I looked.
HAHA just like coaches do??? Not at all. ESPN folks are breaking down film in order to do their jobs on commentating. They are not a production based business in terms of wins and losses (How can I the coach help beat this team). A coach is breaking down film to teach players, watch for tendencies in opponents etc. Not sure what your hate for AP is (maybe you are Jeff Saturday) but if you want to go there on ESPN work and coaching. Pierce worked for ESPN for several years prior to his journey into coaching.
What hate? When did I say I want to see AP fail? Copy and paste it please. Never once. 100% pure fictional statement.
The best commentators break down film to see exactly what coaches see, tendencies from teams. Every former player commenting live will study all of the game tapes from this week, so they can give great analyst on their shows for the coming week. That’s literally their job to give in depth perspective.
As I posted above, the Raiders have 4 more winnable games in the season. I don’t expect him to hang w/ the Chiefs twice, but he’s going up against 2 BU QB’s, The Chargers who choke every week & Russ.
Here’s a great quote: Dan Orlovsky: ‘I’m Competitive About Film Study’
“Nothing makes me happier or brings me more joy when I find something on tape that no one else can.”
Dan was a terrible QB, but gives great detail when he speaks.
I think you and I both know that coaching is far more than just breaking down film. AP seems to be a magnet. The players gravitate towards him. He is a leader. He seems to be a mold of Dan Campbell and Mike Tomlin
All of what you say is important. Tape, players on your side, leadership…
My whole point was AP has very limited NFL experience as a coach in the league. That was it.
Frankly, I’m glad both had a chance to be interim HC’s. Enough of the retreads. There’s a reason they were canned before. I believe the Chargers and DC will also have interim coaches ASAP. I hope they also go with new ideas. The season is over many of the teams, so find out if you have a new S. McVay or other bright mind on your staff; or as in the Colts case, Saturday went from UDFA to captain of a SB team. Smart, dedicated man to the game.
Antonio was also an UDFA. Take off your white hood, Arty.
Lol, oh my gosh. Are you seriously saying someone is part of the k k k because of what he said about the situation being comparable to saturday. Are you unable to have a conversation without calling someone racist or any of the other other words your ilk love too through at people. Your comment is all of what’s wrong with the world. I’m hoping you guys know each other on here and hope messing with him.
Jack, my ilk? Hmmmm….
Nah. I dont know him. The general consensus in all the threads I read is consistent Red state conversations, buzz words, and talking points masked with football talk. I’m not necessarily calling him racist, but this argument is so dumb and his counters are so weak against Pierce that the only thing other than that is if Pierce slept with his wife or something of that nature. Look, I’m not smart or ever claimed to be. And I don’t know anything about anything. But this argument is so ridiculously dumb, that it comes off as just that
I agree with the retread thing. That has become old. Look what it has done to the Raiders and many other NFL teams. Im not saying AP is the next Madden so let me get that out there but Madden was the DC at San Diego State. He was then the LB coach for the Raiders before being elevated to the HC position at 32 years old. Madden was the right fit for that team and I think AP is for this current team. Sometimes being a leader of men and having them ready to run through a wall for you and never give up is better than the best X and O guy. Being a motivator its suss important. You can always find an X and O guy but motivators are few and far between. Mike Tomlin is a motivator. Thats why he hasn’t had a losing season ever as an HC.
How is he wrong. Truth is truth. And I’m a Raider fan of 40 years, and happen to love Pierce and the job he’s doing. In fact I thought they played the dolphins very tough today the offense just floundered. Dolphins have a top 5 team this year. If he stays motivating and coaching like he is , I hope they hire him preeminent. And he certainly wasn’t the d coordinator, first season or second season as lb coach with raiders. But there’s very very little difference between the saturday and pierce situation and we all know it and know the reasoning. But Go Pierce, I’m rooting for you friend. JWB
Are you kidding me? No outrage when the Colts hired Saturday? Out of your mind.
He replaced McDaniels. They could’ve hired me to replace McDaniels and the world have applauded.
What does “player friendly” mean exactly? Are we talking x’s and o’s? No curfews? No fines for showing up late? That kind of stuff?
That doesn’t seem like the kind of advice Tom Coughlin would offer.
At first I thought it could mean like they’re just being treated like adults, but then I read that it was the players who decided the travel schedule to Miami.
I don’t know that this will end well. Could quickly turn into the inmates running the asylum. Hope it doesn’t.
Or he could just hire Bisaccia again. But if I were Mark Davis and his haircut, I’d stick with Pierce
Would like to see them keep Pierce
They’ve beaten a bad Giants team, got taken to the wire by the Jets, then came within an end-zone INT of forcing OT in Miami.
Pierce grew up in Long Beach idolizing the 80’s Raiders — as long as they play with that attitude they’ll be alright.
I love what Pierce has done, and the Raiders are finally watchable. But if Harbaugh is available, I think they should hire him. I’m hoping that Davis explained that to him when they hired him, and hopefully he sticks with the team if we hire Harbaugh.
We’ve seen what happened in Denver when they hired a professional coach.