Antonio Pierce

Raiders’ Maxx Crosby To “Explore Trade Request” If Antonio Pierce Isn’t Named HC

January 13th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Ben Levine

While Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is believed to be “at or near the top” of the Raiders’ list of head coaching candidates, interim head coach Antonio Pierce continues to receive support from many in the organization. In fact, one of the team’s stars is even threatening a trade request if Pierce doesn’t earn the full-time job. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, edge rusher Maxx Crosby is expected to “explore a trade request” if Pierce isn’t promoted.

While many of Crosby’s teammates don’t have the sway to make a similar demand, the locker room is “publicly united” behind their interim head coach. The players believe Pierce has earned the opportunity to “continue building upon the culture and energy he built in Las Vegas this season.” After taking over for Josh McDaniels, Pierce helped guide the Raiders to a 5-4 record to end the 2023 campaign.

Raiders players have continually been supportive of their interim head coach ever since he’s taken over. Wideout Davante Adams told reporters that he’d “run through a wall” for his coach, and Crosby has been vocal about Pierce’s role in rebuilding the Raiders’ culture.

“It’s legendary,” Crosby said recently (via Schefter). “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 [visit] consistently because 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 know what I mean? You want to be at that level one day.”

A Crosby trade request would obviously present a major story line heading into the offseason. The former fourth-round pick has turned into a star during his five seasons with the organization, culminating in a career season in 2023. Crosby earned second-team All-Pro honors this past year after finishing with 14.5 sacks, 31 QB hits, and a league-leading 23 tackles for loss. The pass-rusher is attached to a four-year, nearly $100MM contract that he signed with the Raiders in 2022.

This internal support for Pierce has led some sources to believe that the interim HC is a shoo-in to earn the full-time gig. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Pierce is the “leading candidate” for the job, with one source saying they’d be “blown away if Antonio weren’t the pick.” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo adds that owner Mark Davis has been impressed by Pierce’s ability to galvanize the squad.

Assuming the Raiders are serious about retaining Pierce, they’ll want to make a decision sooner than later. Per Josina Anderson, Pierce is set to meet with the Titans today about their head coaching job. After this news broke, Crosby was quick to tweet “#HireAP.”

However, there’s also a clear Harbaugh camp within the Raiders organization, an indication that the job could ultimately come down to the two candidates. For what it’s worth, the Raiders have yet to conduct any interviews for the job, and the organization is expected to hire a GM before moving on to their coaching vacancy.

However, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports points out that the organization should be wary of painting this as a two-horse race. If coaches believe Pierce or Harbaugh will ultimately be the choice, the Raiders may have a tough time getting these candidates in the building for interviews. Mark Maske of the Washington Post points out that the Raiders will still need to comply with the NFL’s minority interviewing requirements, which would require Davis and co. to “conduct in-person interviews with at least two minority candidates from outside the organization.”

Titans Request HC Interviews With Antonio Pierce, Four Others

January 10th, 2024 at 2:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ousting a popular defensive-minded coach, the Titans are starting off their search to replace Mike Vrabel by sending to interview requests to defense-oriented staffers.

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn and Raiders interim HC Antonio Pierce have received requests to meet with Titans brass about the newly vacated job, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport report. This represents more of the same for Glenn, a candidate over the past two years, but new territory for Pierce, who is in only his second season as an NFL coach. Quinn will interview for the job virtually Wednesday, per SI.com’s Albert Breer.

Additionally, Pelissero notes Giants OC Mike Kafka received a Titans interview summons. Ravens DC Mike Macdonald is also on the Titans’ request list, per Schefter. Both young coaches have surged onto the radar in recent years, with Macdonald riding more momentum at this point.

Pierce is on the radar to keep his job in Las Vegas, but the Raiders are understandably targeting higher-profile names. Jim Harbaugh is in the mix to reunite with the first team to give him a shot as an NFL coach, though Raiders HC interview requests have not emerged yet. The franchise is working on its GM role first. Pierce represents an unorthodox candidate, having been moved from linebackers coach to interim HC. The former Super Bowl-winning linebacker had resigned from his Arizona State DC post in 2022, amid an investigation into recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic, but went 5-4 as Raiders interim HC.

Quinn has been a popular figure on the past two coaching carousels, but the Cowboys’ DC jumped off both rides. He had aimed to land the Broncos’ HC job in 2022, but the franchise went through on what became one of this era’s biggest mistakes by hiring Nathaniel Hackett. Producing two more high-end Cowboys defenses since, Quinn now could have a chance to return to the team that raised his profile. The Seahawks have moved on from Pete Carroll, and Quinn — Seattle’s DC from 2013-14 — is expected to be a lead candidate.

Glenn and Quinn overlap in interview requests during this cycle. In addition to the Titans, both have received requests from the Chargers and Commanders. Glenn has managed to attract steady interest despite his Detroit defenses not rivaling Quinn’s Dallas groups in terms of rankings. The Lions have not produced a top-half ranking in scoring or total yardage in Glenn’s three seasons in charge, but the former cornerback is well-regarded — after a run as the Saints’ DBs coach — and interviewed for the Cardinals and Colts’ jobs last year.

Tennessee’s Kafka request is somewhat surprising. Although Kafka was in the mix for the Arizona, Houston and Indianapolis gigs in 2023, the Giants’ offense regressed this season. That said, the team produced a surprising playoff berth behind quality seasons from Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley in 2022. Jones’ injury wounded the Giants this season, as they tumbled from 15th to 30th in points from 2022-23. Still, the Titans will take a look at the former Chiefs assistant soon. No in-person coaching interviews can take place until after the divisional round. Kafka has called plays during both his Giants OC seasons.

Just 36, Macdonald did not receive any interview requests last year. The Ravens’ defensive performance in 2023 has changed the equation, elevating the play-caller’s stock. Baltimore led the NFL in scoring defense this season; Macdonald’s unit has ranked in the top 10 in both points and yards in each of his two seasons in charge. The longtime Ravens position coach-turned-Michigan assistant is on others’ interview lists as well, with the prospect of Baltimore losing both he and first-year OC Todd Monken in play.

Mutual Interest Between Raiders, Jim Harbaugh; Latest On Antonio Pierce’s Status

January 8th, 2024 at 11:32am CST by Sam Robinson

This is the third consecutive NFL hiring period to feature extensive Jim Harbaugh return rumblings, but this one is providing louder noise on the subject. Harbaugh hiring NFL agent Don Yee has set off alarm bells ahead of Michigan’s national championship game booking against Washington.

The Chargers and Raiders have been in on Harbaugh for a bit now. While Harbaugh interest in coaching Justin Herbert has surfaced, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz notes a return to the Raiders is also believed to hold appeal for the nine-year Michigan HC. Both AFC West teams appear likely to request interviews with Harbaugh, who can meet with teams before coaches on NFL staffs, who must wait until after the divisional round to go through interviews due to an NFL timetable adjustment to its coaching calendar.

Like the Bolts, Harbaugh has a history with the Raiders. Finishing his on-field playing career with the Chargers in 2000, Harbaugh moved directly into coaching in 2002. The Raiders gave Harbaugh his first gig, hiring him as quarterbacks coach on Bill Callahan‘s staff. Harbaugh stayed two years, moving to the college ranks in 2004. The Raiders were connected to Harbaugh during the hiring period that produced the Josh McDaniels choice as well.

Mark Davis has shown support for Pierce, but the second-generation owner has been tied to taking another big swing to fill this position. Considering Pierce’s limited experience, that checks out. Indeed, Schultz adds Pierce has received internal support but offers that Harbaugh is “at or near the top” of the team’s list. Following the Raiders’ Week 18 win over the Broncos, Davis responded in the affirmative when asked (via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez) if Pierce met his expectations of leading and delegating effectively, indicating “there is no question about it,” during his interim stretch.

Pierce went 5-4 as Raiders HC, being far more popular among Raider players compared to McDaniels. But his limited experience — and no NFL team opting to keep an interim HC since 2017 (Doug Marrone, Jaguars) — provide an uphill battle.

It will also be interesting to see how much power the Raiders and Chargers would be willing to give Harbaugh, who has multiple Michigan extension offers on the table. With Harbaugh’s interviews with the Vikings (2022) and Broncos (2023) not leading to jobs, Michigan will certainly be prepared to put a full-court press on the popular but polarizing leader should the Raiders and Chargers move aggressively. That would naturally lead to Harbaugh wanting significant say in terms of personnel and front office staffing.

Once the Wolverines’ season wraps tonight, this situation will accelerate. Will Harbaugh, who could be facing additional sanctions in connection with Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal, make the move back to the NFL this year?

Raiders Eyeing Bill Belichick?

January 6th, 2024 at 10:26pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like we can add another team to the list of potential Bill Belichick suitors. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Raiders are “hoping to get a chance to meet with Belichick” if he’s let go by New England.

The Raiders sourced their most recent head coaching hire from New England, although it led to disappointing results. Josh McDaniels didn’t last two seasons in Las Vegas, as he was ousted in late October after starting the season 3-5. The team also fired GM Dave Ziegler, who previously spent close to a decade in New England’s front office.

Belichick would obviously bring a lot more credibility to the role than his former offensive coordinator. However, you have to wonder if Mark Davis and co. would be so willing to hire a Patriots staffer following their recent failure.

The Raiders’ connections to the Patriots go beyond McDaniels and Ziegler. While the move still isn’t approved, Tom Brady is set to become a minority owner of the organization, and there are whispers that he’ll have a say in the team’s next coaching hire. Considering the reported tension between Brady and Belichick at the end of the quarterback’s Patriots tenure, it’d be an interesting development if the new part-owner is willing to recruit his former coach.

Interim head coach Antonio Pierce reportedly has the support of his locker room when it comes to earning the full-time job. However, as Russini notes, Davis has “always made it known” that he wants his Las Vegas franchise to be led by a star name. That’s a reason why Jim Harbaugh could also be a leading candidate for the gig.

Of course, it remains to be seen if Belichick will even leave New England. We learned last night that the potential divorce could take weeks to finalize, and at the very least, it sounds like the respected coach will avoid a Black Monday ouster. A drawn-out separation could limit Belichick’s ability to get a new job, so it’ll be interesting to see how teams like the Raiders navigate their HC search while juggling Belichick’s uncertainty.

Staff Rumors: Commanders, Smith, Falcons, Bears, Pierce, Raiders, Giants

January 5th, 2024 at 5:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Among head coaches, Ron Rivera resides as the only true lock to be fired following Week 18. The Commanders‘ new ownership injects mystery into the upcoming search. Josh Harris has been rumored to be intrigued by a setup in which a football operations president-type figure oversees a GM and head coach, and SI.com’s Albert Breer further points to the owner being unlikely to hand the keys to a high-powered HC. Like Bill Belichick, Breer considers Jim Harbaugh an unlikely candidate in Washington. It is not known if Belichick would require personnel control if he ends up elsewhere, but Harbaugh having the leverage of more Michigan extension offers, it is expected the hard-edged HC would need significant input on the personnel front if he were to return to the NFL. So far, the Chargers have been the team most closely linked to luring him back.

Additionally, Breer notes Harris is intrigued by how the Eagles and Ravens’ power structures are set up. The Commanders hired ex-Ravens analytics staffer Eugene Shen as senior VP of football strategy in the fall. While the Eagles lost four staffers to assistant GM roles in 2022, the Ravens have a GM candidate in player personnel director Joe Hortiz. Baltimore’s OC-DC tandem — Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald — is expected to generate HC interest as well.

Going into Week 18, here is the latest from staffs around the NFL:

With the Falcons on the doorstep of a third straight 7-10 season, Arthur Smith‘s job status has come up frequently. Vacillating back and forth between being fired or becoming the rare HC to be given a fourth year despite three straight losing seasons, Smith was not exactly given a vote of confidence by Arthur Blank. But the longtime Falcons owner is not believed to be actively seeking changes, per Breer, making it sound like the hope is for Smith and GM Terry Fontenot to show enough to stay on. A one-sided loss to the Saints may well change Blank’s mind. The Falcons can win the NFC South by beating the Saints and the Buccaneers — who also have a coach on the hot seat — losing to the Panthers.
Ryan Poles is believed to have a good relationship with new Bears president Kevin Warren, being expected to stay on for a third year as GM. Prior to the Bears‘ rout of the Falcons, Matt Eberflus was linked to being in good standing for a third HC season. While expecting both to stay, Breer notes neither Bears power broker has been assured of a return. Warren has been a wild card in this scenario since he was hired, and the former Big Ten commissioner did not confirm publicly when asked Friday (via the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley) if Eberflus would be retained. Eberflus is 10-23 as Bears HC, but the team — which has a rather important quarterback decision to make soon — is 7-5 over its past 12.
Raiders leaders Davante Adams, Maxx Crosby and Josh Jacobs would back the retention of interim HC Antonio Pierce, but Mark Davis is believed to be aiming higher. After all, Pierce — who resigned his two-year post as Arizona State DC in 2022 — has far less experience than Raiders DC Patrick Graham. But Pierce’s knowledge of the Raiders’ culture and history does appeal to Davis, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com writes, noting these factors matter considerably to the second-generation owner. No team has bumped an interim leader to the full-time post since the Jaguars elevated Doug Marrone in 2017.
Giants running backs coach Jeff Nixon is set for a responsibility jump; it will come at the college level. Syracuse hired Nixon as its offensive coordinator Friday. Nixon was in his first season as Giants RBs coach; he had served under Matt Rhule at Baylor and with the Panthers. The Giants hired Nixon last year to replace DeAndre Smith, who left to take the same position with the Colts.

Latest On Raiders’ HC Vacancy

January 2nd, 2024 at 9:06am CST by Adam La Rose

After moving on from Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler, the Raiders created another opening on the sideline and in the front office owner Mark Davis is now tasked with filling. The team’s interim options have impressed in their respective audition periods, but they are not assured of the permanent gig as of now.

Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, veterans such as Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs and Maxx Crosby are likely to show their support for interim head coach Antonio Pierce. That would come as little surprise given the latter’s success after taking over. While the Raiders are out of postseason contention, Pierce has strengthened his case to have the interim tag removed based on the team’s record and improved play.

Breer adds, however, that Davis “may have a big swing in him” with respect to his next coaching hire. When the organization was in a similar position, Jon Gruden replacement Rich Bisaccia was not retained on a full-time basis. Davis now regrets bringing in McDaniels instead of keeping Bisaccia in place, and the 2024 offseason will provide him the opportunity to take a different path by rewarding Pierce with the full-time position. Other candidates with more pedigree will be available in the upcoming hiring cycle, though.

Pierce’s NFL coaching career began just last season when he was hired as the Raiders’ linebackers coach. The 45-year-old is thus lacking in experience compared to a candidate such as Jim Harbaugh. The latter has again been linked to an NFL return following the end of the college season, and the Raiders have been floated as a potential landing spot. Harbaugh – who recently hired an agent – had a successful run with the 49ers before his current stint at Michigan, which has produced three consecutive CFP playoff appearances and a trip to this year’s national title game.

Bill Belichick represents another veteran staffer whose addition would certainly constitute a notable hiring. His standing with the Patriots has remained uncertain throughout the season, and it would come as little surprise at this point if he were to find himself coaching elsewhere in 2024. Despite the recent firings of Gruden and McDaniels, finances are not expected to be an issue for Davis as he considers his net hire.

Harbaugh and Belichick are two of the veteran staffers who may be soon the market soon, but others with a lengthier resume than Pierce will be options as well. For that reason, Breer notes he may be considered the Raiders’ backup plan at this point if a hiring of the preferred candidate does not work out. Still, Pierce has generally impressed in his interim capacity, so his future will be worth watching closely.

Antonio Pierce Gaining Momentum For Full-Time Raiders HC Position?

December 28th, 2023 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders are one of three teams which are guaranteed to conduct head coach searches this offseason, but the team’s play of late has likely played a factor in that process. Interim HC Antonio Pierce has guided the team to a 4-3 record since taking over and in doing so has helped his cause for earning the full-time gig.

Upon taking over from Josh McDaniels midseason, Pierce took on a much larger workload than he had previously experienced at the NFL level. His 2022 posting as Las Vegas’ linebackers coach was his first in the pros, giving him a thin resume with respect to a number of the other coaching candidates likely to be interviewed for the position. For that reason, it came as little surprise when a recent report indicated interim general manager Champ Kelly was the likelier of the two to have the interim tag removed.

However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano note Pierce has strengthened his case to get the nod for 2024 and beyond. The team’s fourth win on his watch – a Christmas Day upset of the Chiefs – has them in contention for both the AFC West title and a wild-card berth with two weeks remaining in the season. The path to a playoff spot of any kind is narrow, but the fact the Raiders are still in contention is a dramatic turnaround from where things stood with McDaniels in place.

Pierce’s audition period has seen the team play with increased levels of discipline and physicality, something the ESPN report notes has “impressed” owner Mark Davis. The latter was in a similar position when Rich Bisaccia took over for Jon Gruden in 2021, but his relatively strong run was not sufficient to land him the permanent posting. Davis has since come to regret the decision to replace Bisaccia with McDaniels, but the current situation represents an opportunity to avoid a repeat of that perceived mistake.

Early reports in the aftermath of Pierce taking charge pointed to Davis being impressed with the improvement from the McDaniels regime. The Raiders have allowed more than 21 points in a game only once since the change was made, and a strong defensive showing will be needed to keep the team’s postseason chances alive. Regardless of if Vegas manages to secure a playoff berth or not, Pierce’s stock has certainly risen in recent weeks.

Much will depend on the team’s finish to the season, one in which Pierce has brought in a number of experienced staffers to help him in his (as of now) temporary assignment. The Raiders will likely have their new general manager in place early in the offseason to assist in the process of hiring a full-time head coach, something which still needs to satisfy the Rooney Rule. As things currently stand, though, that endeavor could very well result in Pierce being handed the reins on a permanent basis.

Champ Kelly Gaining Support To Remain Raiders’ GM; Team Eyeing High-Level Football Ops Staffer

December 22nd, 2023 at 10:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

When the Raiders signed up for a Patriot Way blueprint, they added Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler together. Mark Davis‘ upcoming HC-GM search will likely feature a different approach.

Indicating he would want his GM hire to have some say in the team’s HC choice, Davis said the Raiders will plan to hire their top front office exec first, according to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed. While the owner stopped short of ensuring that is how the Raiders’ next round of searches will unfold, he said that will be the likely play (subscription required).

Davis cut the cord on the Ziegler-McDaniels partnership in the middle of the night, canning both hours after the Halloween trade deadline. Champ Kelly and Antonio Pierce are serving in those roles for the time being. It should be expected, barring a freefall over this season’s final three games, both will have a shot to see their interim tags removed. Kelly is viewed around the league as a legitimate candidate to keep his job, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes.

A well-regarded exec, Kelly interviewed for the job Ziegler received in 2022. We heard just after the firings that Kelly had support to ascend to the full-time role. Unlike Pierce, Kelly has a long track record as an NFL staffer. After a five-year tenure as the Broncos’ assistant pro personnel director — a run he began during McDaniels’ infamous Denver tenure — Kelly spent six years with the Bears, finishing out his run as their assistant director of player personnel.

The Raiders hired Kelly, 43, to be their assistant GM shortly after going with Ziegler to lead the way, though SI.com’s Albert Breer notes fellow 2022 interviewee Ed Dodds impressed as well. Dodds has been the Colts’ assistant GM for the past seven years. Dodds has been a popular name on the GM interview circuit in recent years, though he did not interview for any positions in 2023.

Although Pierce and Kelly are both Black, the Raiders will still need to follow Rooney Rule procedures during their search. Two external minority candidates or women are required to interview for teams’ HC and GM positions. At the league meetings last week, buzz pointed to Davis being more likely to retain Kelly than Pierce, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. This makes sense given Pierce’s limited experience. The ex-Giants Super Bowl-winning linebacker has no NFL coaching experience prior to his Raiders gig, separating this situation from Davis’ call to pass on longtime ST coordinator-turned-interim HC Rich Bisaccia in 2022.

Recently, Pierce had his former Giants coach (Tom Coughlin), along with Adam Gase and ex-Arizona State coworker Marvin Lewis, in the building. The trio sat in on Raiders meetings and offered input on all team aspects, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, with Pierce attempting to gain intel from experienced HCs as he attempts to make a case for the full-time job. Coughlin and Lewis have counseled Pierce since the Raiders named him interim HC, Rapoport adds. No interim head coach has ascended to a full-time position since the Jaguars removed Doug Marrone‘s interim tag in 2017.

Regardless of the Raiders’ decisions regarding their interim staffers, a third power broker may enter the equation soon. Citing Hall of Famer Ron Wolf‘s impact as a scout during his 11-year tenure with the Raiders — ahead of a successful run as the Packers’ GM — Davis alluded to a non-GM hire having a significant say in the next Raider regime.

“I think that the triumvirate in that regard worked very well together,” Mark Davis said (via Reed) of his father, Wolf and the Raiders’ HCs. “People think that their egos were all out there, but there was no ego at all. It was about who could they give to the coach to help him do his job and be great. Today, I don’t know.

“Because I don’t have that ability that my father had in judging talent. So, that’s a missing piece to the puzzle, so to speak, is a solid football mind that isn’t the GM or the head coach. And I think that’s a piece that’s probably going to be necessary somewhere down the line is bringing in somebody that understands that football that’s above the day-to-day work.”

The Raiders hiring a high-level football operations exec would stand to limit the GM’s power. This was the case when the Jaguars hired Coughlin to work above Dave Caldwell in 2017, and the Dolphins used this setup with Mike Tannenbaum and GM Chris Grier from 2016-18. Mark Davis, however, has struggled throughout his ownership tenure. Eight HCs have stopped through Oakland and Las Vegas since Al Davis‘ death in 2011; the team has two winning seasons since its Super Bowl XXXVII appearance 21 years ago. Bringing in an additional voice would be an interesting effort on the owner’s part. Although the GM and HC hires will generate the most attention, a third pillar coming in would represent a significant development.

Given McDaniels’ experience, it was assumed the three-time Super Bowl-winning OC was running the show during his brief Las Vegas tenure. Ziegler, however, was believed to have the final say on the 53-man roster. Davis confirmed this was the case but stopped short of indicating Ziegler wielded that power regularly.

“I think there’s been a misconception on the last head coach and general manager and who had the authority,” Davis said. “Lately, some articles have come out making it seem like the head coach had more authority on that, and that’s the furthest thing from the truth. The general manager had the final authority on all of it. Whether he accepted that authority or not is a different story, but it was very clear when they were hired where the buck stopped.”

The McDaniels-Ziegler duo’s shortcomings will undoubtedly be on Davis’ mind as he determines the franchise’s course for the mid-2020s and beyond.

Raiders Interested In David Shaw?

November 28th, 2023 at 9:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce has established himself as a legitimate candidate to take over the full-time gig following the 2023 season. Of course, that won’t stop Mark Davis and co. from eyeing other options. As Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal passes along, a “name to keep an eye on” in the sweepstakes is former Stanford head coach David Shaw.

Shaw spent more than a decade running Stanford’s program, earning three conference titles and five bowl victories. He was fired following two-straight 3-9 campaigns, and he’s spent the past year out of football entirely.

Shaw actually spent time with the Raiders early on in his coaching career, serving as the team’s offensive quality control coach and later the quarterbacks coach. He spent four seasons with the Ravens before getting recruited by Jim Harbaugh to be the receivers coach at the University of San Diego. He followed Harbaugh to Stanford, serving as the offensive coordinator before getting promoted to head coach when Harbaugh left for the 49ers.

This isn’t the first time the coach has been connected to head coaching gigs. Shaw was a candidate for the Broncos head coaching job last offseason before the organization traded for Sean Payton.

Depending on how the Raiders finish the season, Shaw might not even have a shot at the job. Vic Tafur of The Athletic writes that a 6-3 record for Pierce “would get him the full-time job.” Following last weekend’s loss to the Chiefs, the Raiders are now 2-2 under the interim head coach, meaning they’ll need to go 4-1 the rest of the way to reach that record. Of course, Pierce could also earn the job without the strong finish; as Tafur writes, Davis “loves” how the players have responded to their new head coach.

Latest On Interim Raiders HC Antonio Pierce

November 19th, 2023 at 3:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

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.

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