Antonio Pierce stood at the podium during an end-of-season news conference, even though his future as the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach was uncertain.
The Raiders could have simply told Pierce that he was no longer needed and let him go without speaking to the media. However, Pierce was asked to represent the team again, and they sent mixed signals before announcing the next day that he had been fired after just one season as the head coach.
“We appreciate Antonio’s leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as the head coach,” the team said in a statement. “Antonio grew up a Raiders fan and his Silver and Black roots run deep. We are grateful for his ability to reignite what it means to be a Raider throughout the entire organization. We wish nothing but the best for Antonio and his family in the future.”
Pierce became interim coach midway through the 2023 season and finished with a 5-4 record. His players strongly supported him for the full-time role.
However, after a 2-2 start this season, the Raiders suffered a 10-game losing streak that put his job in danger. The team dealt with injuries, including to defensive linemen Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins, and the Davante Adams situation, which ended with his trade to the New York Jets. The Raiders finished with a 4-13 record.
Pierce was the fourth full-time head coach for the Raiders in the past decade, with Rich Bisaccia serving as interim head coach in 2021.
Since Jon Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001, the Raiders have had 13 head coaches, including interim coaches Bisaccia and Tony Sparano. That’s the most head coaches in the NFL during that time, with the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins close behind at 11 each.
Pierce was one of three Black coaches hired last year, along with Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots and Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons. Mayo was fired Sunday, leaving Morris as the only remaining coach from that group.
Three coaches have been fired since the end of the season, with Doug Pederson of the Jaguars dismissed on Monday. Jacksonville has requested to interview eight candidates, including Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
As for the Raiders’ next move, Mike Vrabel has been mentioned as a possible candidate. He and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady were teammates with the Patriots, but Vrabel will likely be pursued by other teams with head coaching openings, including New England.
Owner Mark Davis has stated that Brady will have a significant role in the team’s operations, including the coaching search.
The team has other pressing issues. Las Vegas needs a franchise quarterback, something Pierce didn’t have. Aidan O’Connell has shown he can start but hasn’t demonstrated the ability or consistency to lead the team deep into the playoffs.
Making the playoffs would be a major goal for the next coach. The Raiders’ last playoff appearance was three years ago, and before that, they only made the playoffs once since losing in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season.
General manager Tom Telesco will need to address several gaps, especially at running back and wide receiver. The team also needs more depth on defense.
Pierce will likely try to stay in the NFL, possibly as a position coach. He had never been a coordinator before getting the Raiders job.
He probably won’t return to college due to an eight-year show-cause penalty given by the NCAA for violations he committed while on Arizona State’s staff from 2018-21.
On Monday, Pierce spoke about his hopes for his future with the Raiders, saying any discussion about his job status was “not inside the building.” He did acknowledge that a meeting with Davis and Telesco was coming.
It’s not typical for a coach to meet with reporters and then be fired, but it has happened before. For example, Matt Eberflus spoke with the media earlier this season just hours before the Chicago Bears fired him.
