This time, it looks like owner Mark Davis will be hiring an interim head coach for the Raiders rather than moving in a different direction.
Multiple reports on Friday indicated the Raiders would strip Antonio Pierce, who went 5-4 after replacing the fired Josh McDaniels, of the interim label and keep him in the full-time job. was.
ESPN reported that the teams were “finalizing” the deal, and other media outlets also confirmed Pierce was selected for the job.
Pierce was the Raiders players' preferred candidate, but the former Giants linebacker also interviewed with the Titans, while the Falcons asked for permission to interview him.
According to Sports Illustrated, Davis will hire Rich Bisaccia (who replaced Jon Gruden as coach and helped stabilize a controversial team and lead it to the postseason) full-time starting in 2021. After the season, he reported that he had “some regrets” over not hiring him.
Raiders players publicly supported Pierce.
“Obviously that's who I wanted and that was my vote and I've been vocal about it,” star wideman Davante Adams told reporters earlier this month. “Basically the whole locker room feels that way, and there's a good reason for that. He's come in and done a great job. He continues to impress us. He's not just comfortable. I think having AP here is good for this organization. He kind of embodies what it means to be a Raider.
“That mentality, that swag and everything he stands for is something that I believe in. For a guy like me, especially hanging out with him a little bit this year and getting to know him and seeing his evolution. It's easy because I could see it right in front of my team. All of those things, all the different areas of being a head coach. I'm definitely rooting for him. ”
According to NFL Network, defensive end Maxx Crosby may have requested a trade had Pierce not been hired.
“Let's build this and see what we can do with it,” Crosby said on the podcast “The Rush with Maxx Crosby.” According to The Athletic. “When it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but I believe in him and I know this is going in the right direction and I feel like other people are going as well. So we must do the right thing and get the AP back. [interim GM Champ Kelly] Go back, no question about it. ”
Pierce spent the final five seasons of his NFL career with the Giants before transitioning into coaching, spending four years on Arizona State's staff before being hired by the Raiders as linebackers coach in 2022.
