Dec 25, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce talks to media against the Kansas City Chiefs after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
LAS VEGAS — NFL lockers rooms have been built on a strong culture. And the head coach usually plays an integral part in that.
For Antonio Pierce that may have landed him a new job
The Las Vegas Raiders are working to finalize a deal to hire Pierce as their head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
Pierce, who was named head coach on Halloween after the firing of Josh McDaniel’s, will have the interim tag removed from his title after he went 5-4 over the final nine games of the season. Pierce was always the likely candidate, but after the former Giants linebacker interviewed with the Titans, and the Falcons his future started to look murky.
That said, the Raiders have now their “guy.”
When Al Davis first elevated Pierce from linebackers coach to interim coach, he told ESPN he did not want Pierce to necessarily “coach,” so much as “lead” and “delegate.”
And it worked like a charm.
Raiders players bought into Pierce’s leadership style. Most notably — their top players.
“It’s legendary,” Max Crosby said after the season finale. “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 of 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.”
Yeah, I mean, he’s obviously who I want, that’s my vote, and I’ve been vocal about that,” Davante Adams said on Jan. 7. “That’s basically how the whole locker room feels, and with good reason. I mean, he’s come in and done a great job, and he’s continued to win us over.”
Pierce, 45, was hired as Las Vegas’ linebackers coach under McDaniel’s in 2022. He had previously been at Arizona State since 2018, rising to associate head coach in 2021.
His first task will be to solve the quarterback question that derailed the team last season.
