Antonio Pierce has been appointed Las Vegas Raiders head coach.

Antonio Pierce has been appointed Las Vegas Raiders head coach.

Recently, Antonio Pierce became the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. As Interim Head Coach of the Raiders in 2023, Pierce, a nine-year NFL veteran and former Super Bowl champion, team captain, and Pro Bowl selection, compiled a 5-4 record in nine games.

Before being appointed interim head coach on October 31, 2023, Pierce served as the linebackers coach for the Raiders for his second season. Additionally, the defense conceded a league-low 16.0 points per game.

Under his leadership, the Silver and Black defeated AFC West opponents 3-1. In Week 15, they defeated the Chargers by a franchise-record 63 points.

Additionally, he guided one of only three NFL teams that scored points during each of the final four games of the regular-season stretch.

The Raiders finished the year with the fewest penalties in the NFL (75) and completed two games without one penalty flag under his direction.

Pierce also oversaw Divine Deablo, which ranked eleventh in the league with an average of 9.25 tackles per game.

When Pierce assumed leadership in Week 9, the Raiders had 14 takeaways (tied for tenth in the NFL), a turnover margin of +6 (fifth in the league), and 30 sacks (third in the NFL).

Luke Masterson, an undrafted rookie in the 2022 season, amassed 50 tackles (26 solo) in his rookie year with the Silver and Black, thanks to Pierce’s assistance.

Masterson ranked third-best among undrafted rookies in the NFL and second-best in a single season in Raiders history.

Pierce spent a total of five seasons at Arizona State, where he assumed the role of linebackers coach before advancing to associate head coach as well as defensive coordinator before entering the coaching ranks of the NFL.

Pierce assisted the Sun Devils’ defense in ranking first in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (20.8), total yards surrendered per game (326.3), tying for first within defensive TDs (three), second in interceptions (16), and second in sacks (27), upon his promotion to defensive coordinator in 2021.

Pierce served as the head football coach of Long Beach Central High School for four seasons before enrolling at ASU.

The native of Long Beach, California, transferred from Mount San Antonio College to the University of Arizona, where he participated collegiately for two seasons.

He appeared in 23 games for the Wildcats, accumulating 152 tackles, 20 of which were for loss, and seven sacks.

In addition, he was a crucial member of the New York Giants’ Super Bowl XLII victory over the unbeaten New England Patriots at the time.

Pierce entered the NFL with the Washington Redskins in 2001 as a free agent without a draft pick and spent four seasons with the club before his unrestricted free agent signing with the New York Giants in 2005.

Pierce appeared in 115 games with 85 starts during his nine-year career, accumulating 732 tackles (462 solo), eight sacks, seven interceptions, eight forced fumbles, and eleven fumble recoveries.

He was an integral member of the Super Bowl XLII champion Giants squad and received a Pro Bowl invitation in 2006.

Following Josh McDaniels’ dismissal on Halloween night, the team elevated Pierce, 45, from linebackers coach.

After leading the Raiders to victory, he revitalized the locker room with cigar celebrations, and his acceptance of the team’s culture inspired both current and former members to lend their support. Las Vegas finished the season 5–4.

His dedication to the team is the result of nine seasons as an NFL linebacker for the Washington Reds (2001–2004) along with the New York Giants (2005–2009), during which he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2006.

Since assuming ownership of the franchise following the death of his father, Al Davis, in 2011, Mark Davis has hired seven coaches (regular and interim), including McDaniels, Tony Sparano, Jack Del Rio, Jon Gruden, and Jon Gruden.

Examining the situation more closely, Raiders reporter Paul Gutierrez responds to four significant inquiries regarding Pierce’s employment, including what comes next.

Draft analyst Matt Miller projects information regarding the hire that national reporter Jeremy Fowler has obtained for the draft. Mike Tannenbaum, a front office analyst, assigns the final grade to the hire.