The Raiders went 5-4 to close out the 2023 season, and interim head coach Antonio Pierce received a number of endorsements from players to receive the full-time gig. Owner Mark Davis – having regretted not doing so in the case of Rich Bisaccia previously – decided to keep the former Pro Bowl linebacker in place for 2024.
Things have not gone according to plan, though, with Vegas struggling in a number of categories. The team sits at 2-11 on the year and a high draft pick (perhaps the No. 1 selection) is set to be a central element of the offseason. By the time the draft takes place, a decision will have been made by owner Mark Davis regarding any coaching moves.
On that note, Davis said (via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal) during the league meetings he will evaluate the Raiders’ staff, including Pierce, after the season ends. Notable changes have of course already been made during the campaign, with Pierce electing to fire offensive coordinator Luke Getsy in November. Scott Turner took over as interim OC, a move which has also seen his father Norv join the staff. Those moves have not yielded a notable uptick in offensive efficiency, although other factors have contributed to that.
Quarterback injuries have been seen throughout the campaign, with Gardner Minshew suffering a broken collarbone and Aidan O’Connell missing time. The latter suffered a bone bruise in Week 14, but he may be available for the Raiders’ next game. Failing that, Desmond Ridder will be in line to start against the Falcons, his former team. Minshew was added in free agency as a bridge starter option, although he only narrowly won out a training camp competition with O’Connell. Their collective struggles have left the Raiders near the bottom of many offensive categories.
League sources are split on Pierce’s job security, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, partially because his contract length was shorter than most other recent hires. Firing him after one injury-riddled season in which the Raiders were not expected to compete seems harsh, but Tom Brady‘s addition to the team’s ownership group could complicate matters.
Davis wants Brady to “have a real role in the decision-making,” per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. If Brady already has his eyes on a different long-term head coach – or simply believes that Pierce isn’t the man for the job – Las Vegas may not waste their time (or Pierce’s) by giving him another year.Davis recently clarified that Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco will be evaluated separately.
“They didn’t come in as a team. They are individuals,” said Davis, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, though the Raiders made the decision to hire Telesco less than a week after elevating Pierce from his interim status.
The early returns on Telesco’s moves this offseason have been positive. First-round pick Brock Bowers is a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and second-rounder Jackson Powers-Johnson has cemented himself as the team’s starting center. The jury remains out on the $110MM given to defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who had a solid start to the year but has been on injured reserve since October with a Jones fracture in his foot.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
The Raiders have recently taken on a few minority owners. But the only one with personnel say is Tom? Boy, that’s going to go well with other uber-wealthy owners.
Mess of a franchise.
Make this make sense. How many Super Bowls has Brady won compared to a bunch of old men who have never played in the NFL?? Why wouldn’t you want Brady if you owned stake in the team?
That means nothing. Literally. Playing the game is different than coaching the game and is different than player evaluating. Need proof? See Jordan, and Jeter in those positions. Great players. Terrible owners/player evaluators.
As long as the other minority owners get a nice return on their investment I doubt they care who makes the personnel decisions. If the Raiders are a mess of a franchise now you can imagine what happens if more meddling by owners with no football knowledge is on the menu.
Let me know when an NFL team loses value. It’s the best investment out there.
1 and done
He gone
I like Antonio Pierce and wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a good head coach one day, and this team was behind the eight ball this year anyway. But he hasn’t shown much this year, he had never been an NFL coach before a couple years ago and has never been a coordinator in the pros or a head coach anywhere else, and he got the job largely because players liked him so much as an interim coach, which probably has a lot to do with him replacing the most roundly loathed head coach I can remember in recent memory.
His players haven’t given up on him. If you just see the box score you think they get beat bad but the raiders are in every game heading into the 4th quarter. They play hard and don’t give up. Problem is talent. The roster isn’t talented. In fact the raiders have the least 1st round picks on the roster vs any team in the NFL. Raiders need talent. Madden couldn’t win with this team.
He gone
Watch the team pay millions to a consultant group for an assessment the average fan could have made. Move on to a real coach…
Agreed, but also I still can’t believe they immediately gave Telesco another GM job. That was a much goofier decision.
Tom did what he always does. Hit om the 1st and 2nd round pick then call it a season
Hahahaha, I told them to do a one year deal, but someone told me that was a slap in the face…..I just don’t think was ready to be a HC
What makes you ready to be an NFL HC? One of the greatest coaches of all time for the NFL and the Raiders got promoted from LB coach to HC at 32 years old. No coordinator experience at the NFL level. That’d be John Madden. Another was a DB coach for most of his coaching career with one year as a DC then promoted to HC at 36. Mike Tomlin. If you follow the college game look at ASUs Kenny Dillingham. Really only one year calling plays as OC and at 32 years old has led one of the greatest turn around a in a long time. They are in the CFP. just don’t get you guys and the media. If you’re a leader of men, you’re ready. You don’t need years as a DC or OC etc.
The rumors of Hue Jackson making a comeback bid begin in 5…4…3…2…1 🙂
Will Vogel be any better?
Deion Sanders is a package deal
You may be right actually but I really feel Deions coaching style is better suited for the college game.
Yet again it needs to be said: Never let the players pick the coach.
Doesn’t every team evaluate their coach after the season?
Does this mean he’ll be a Monday January 6 designee?
11th year of rebuild for the Raiders.