Antonio Pierce and the Oakland Raiders have come to terms on a deal that solidifies Pierce's role as the team's next head coach. Pierce was named the interim head coach after a 3-5 start by Josh McDaniels, who was starting his second season as Raiders head coach. Pierce reinvigorated the team's locker room and finished the season 5-4.
Pierce had been the team's linebackers coach since 2022 and was extremely popular with the team. His promotion from interim head coach to head coach comes two seasons after a controversial Raiders decision not to promote 2021-2022 interim head coach Jeff Bisaccia.
Bisaccia was promoted to interim head coach following Jon Gruden's resignation in October 2021. Similarly to Pierce, Bisaccia was popular in the locker room and led the team to an improved second half of his interim season. Bisaccia's 7-5 end to the season was even enough to earn the Raiders a playoff berth. Fans and players liked Bisaccia and wanted him to coach the team moving forward, but the Raiders failed to resign him and he became special teams coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.
Fans were worried that Pierce's Raiders career would suffer a similar fate to Bisaccia's, but that's no longer a concern. Pierce will become just the third interim coach in the last ten years to be elevated to the head coaching position. Pierce and Raider's fans will now await owner Mark Davis' decision regarding the team's next general manager. They hold nine draft picks this year, including number 13 overall. The Raiders have quarterback questions and plenty of roster holes for Pierce and the team to address this offseason.
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