The Las Vegas Raiders have had a head coaching problem– but former interim head coach Antonio Pierce could bring about a new era.
LAS VEGAS, NV– While the Raiders are coming off another mediocre season, there is much uncertainty in their future. However, a dim light has seems to burn at the end of the tunnel with the recent head coach hiring of Antonio Pierce. The move comes after a wave of social media support from fans and players alike. But is Pierce the missing piece in the puzzle when it comes to bringing the playoffs back to Las Vegas? It certainly seems like it.
After beginning the season with a 3-5 record and their loss against the Lions on Halloween weekend, the Raiders decided to fire Josh McDaniels. Until this point, the Raiders struggled on offense averaging 17 points per game. The defense also struggled during this time. Things became even more complicated when Jimmy Garoppolo was benched in favor of fourth-round rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell. Through all of this, the struggling team looked to Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce to lead the Raiders back into competitive play.
Pierce rose to the interim position in the middle of his second season with the Raiders as a linebackers coach. Prior to this, he spent five seasons at Arizona State where he was eventually promoted to defensive coordinator, and four years leading a local high school. Pierce also led an NFL career of his own, being drafted by Washington in 2001 and signed by the Giants in 2005 where he eventually won a Super Bowl with the team in 2008. Looking back on his history, it’s safe to say that Pierce has held his fair share of experience across all levels of football.
Pierce entered his position as head coach with promises of culture change and a more aggressive style of play. This seemed to resonate with fans and especially players, evidenced by their efforts in the second half of the season.
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By the end of the season, Pierce had led the Raiders to a 5-4 finish with noteworthy victories over the Chiefs (20-14) and the Chargers (63-21), which ended up being one of the most wild games of the season. Both games featured excellent defensive performances, with two defensive touchdowns each and maniacal effort through all four quarters of play. While not every game under Pierce was a defensive masterpiece, one thing was certain– the Raiders quietly established themselves as a defense to look out for in the coming years.
On the offensive side of things, Aidan O’Connell and the rest of the offense struggled throughout the rest of the season. The Raiders were shut out against the Vikings in a very winnable 0-3 loss and were also bailed out by their defense in their win against the Chiefs, with the offense only scoring two field goals. While these losses do not entirely fall on the quarterback position, I would expect to be on the lookout for a new signing in Las Vegas, especially after Jimmy Garoppolo’s suspension last week.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, Raiders players and fans took to social media to attempt to retain Pierce as the head coach for the foreseeable future.
#HireAP became the signature message posted to dozens of Raiders players’ social media, with Maxx Crosby seemingly leading the charge on his podcast The Rush. Within the podcast, Crosby claimed he would consider requesting a trade if Pierce was not retained.
“I want to be a Raider,” he stated. “But if we go in a different direction, there is nothing off the table.”
Crosby’s loyalty to Pierce speaks miles to the character and coach he has proven himself to be in his nine-game run in Las Vegas. I urge Raiders fans to be optimistic about their future because it seems to be in great hands. With the culture shift, Pierce intends to bring to Las Vegas backed by leaders such as Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams, the Raiders are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
With that being said, there is lots of work to be done until the preseason. Talents such as Josh Jacobs, Marcus Peters, and 3 starting offensive linemen are at the end of their contracts. The Raiders’ offense could look completely different depending on the moves that are made in the coming months. For the 2024 NFL Draft, upgrades at the quarterback, offensive/defensive line, and corner positions seem to be the most pressing needs for the Raiders at the moment. With the 13th overall pick, the Raiders are in a decent position to go whichever way they feel is the best for their future.
No matter what direction the Raiders decide to take their team, it is clear that the current players believe in their coaching and leadership for the future. With Antonio Pierce leading the charge, Raider Nation should be ready for a rebranded team hungry for a playoff run.
