Davis Makes Pierce Raiders' Full-Time Coach
Owner Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders made it official when he removed the Interim tag from Coach Antonio Pierce’s title today.
The 45-year-old Pierce, who has been a Raiders fan most of his life since he grew up in Compton, Calif., when the Silver and Black were playing in Los Angeles, took over this season when Davis fired Coach Josh McDaniels on Halloween after a 3-5 start to the season after posting a 6-11 record in 2021-22.
Pierce, who earlier played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and New York Giants, won his first two games as Interim Coach of the Raiders and posted a 5-4 record the rest of the way as Las Vegas finished the season at 8-9, but missed out on the playoffs.
Antonio Pierce is the new permanent head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Darrell Craig Harris, Raiders Today
Included were a 20-14 upset of the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium and a 27-14 victory over the AFC West rival Denver Broncos in the final game of the season at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Most impressive, however, was a 63-21 trouncing of the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers, when the Raiders scored the first 49 points in the game and set a record for the most points in the franchise’s 64-year history.
Pierce first coached at Long Beach Poly High in Southern California, where he was head coach from 2014-17 before becoming linebackers coach at Arizona State in 2018-19, assistant head coach in 2020 and defensive coordinator in 2021.
Then he joined the Raiders as linebackers coach under McDaniels in 2022 before becoming interim head coach this season.
Pierce was signed by the Redskins, now the Commanders, as an undrafted free-agent linebacker out of Arizona in 2001 and spent three seasons in D.C. before signing with the Giants and playing five seasons in New York until retiring.
During his career, Pierce made 691 total tackles, including 39 for losses, had nine sacks, forced eight fumbles, and recovered 10 while intercepting seven passes. He returned one of those interceptions 78 yards for a touchdown and ran a fumble back 17 yards for another score.
In 2006, Pierce was selected to play in the Pro Bowl, and he also started at linebacker when the Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 17-14, in Super Bowl XLII before 71,101 spectators at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on February 3, 2008.
Pierce’s full-time hiring is bound to be very popular, as the Raiders’ locker room seemed unanimous in wanting him to be the coach next season.
Wide receiver Davante Adams and defensive end Maxx Crosby, two team leaders, had spoken out on behalf of Pierce, as had Raiders legend Charles Woodson, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member.
It would seem that Davis didn’t have any other real choice.
From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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