The Las Vegas Raiders are making it official with Antonio Pierce as long expected.
The Raiders will be making Pierce their head coach and removing his interim tag.
Interim no more: The #Raiders are working on a deal with Antonio Pierce to retain him as the 23rd head coach in franchise history, sources tell me and @RapSheet
After going 5-4 down the stretch, Pierce gets the full-time job, which is welcome news to many, including Maxx Crosby. pic.twitter.com/w8vaZgY1QV
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 19, 2024
Pierce began the season as the Raiders’ linebackers coach, but he was elevated to interim head coach after Josh McDaniels was fired following the team’s 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.
The Raiders had begun the season 3-5 under McDaniels and went 5-4 under Pierce to finish the season 8-9.
Raiders players had supported the hire of Pierce as the full-time head coach. Defensive star Maxx Crosby even threatened to demand a trade if Pierce weren’t retained as head coach.
After hiring McDaniels rather than listening to his players who wanted Rich Bisaccia to be retained after the 2021 season, Raiders owner Mark Davis learned his lesson. This time around, he is elevating the successful interim head coach to a full-time role.
