HENDERSON — After leading the Las Vegas Raiders to a 5-4 record as interim coach, the Raiders announced Friday that Antonio Pierce will become their next head coach.
Since stepping in as interim coach in midseason, Las Vegas Raiders players have advocated for Pierce to be named full-time head coach.
Pierce accepted the job on Friday.
The Raiders revealed Pierce’s hire as their new coach by removing the word “interim” from a post on X, the social site that replaced Twitter. He’s the Raiders’ fourth interim coach, following Art Shell, Tom Cable, and Marty Feldman.
Pierce, 45, took over as interim coach on Halloween night, following Josh McDaniels’ firing. The team finished 8-9 overall.
“Why wouldn’t we keep going the direction we’re going?” Maxx Crosby, Raiders defensive end, remarked after the team’s 27-14 victory over Denver on January 7. “It was difficult for us to come together and do something remarkable in such a short period of time. We have a person who has played at the top level, won a Super Bowl, served as a captain, and is now a fantastic coach and leader.
Pierce also won over many of the fans. As the game against the Broncos neared its end, the audience chanted “AP!”
“Can’t think of anyone more deserving,” Las Vegas tackle Jermaine Eluemunor wrote on X. “The Raider way is the only way that needs to be in Vegas.”
Pierce will be tasked with restoring a championship pedigree to a once-iconic organization that has missed the playoffs in 19 of the previous 21 seasons.
NFL hiring restrictions prevented owner Mark Davis from hiring Pierce outright. To comply with the Rooney rule, Davis needed to conduct in-person interviews with at least two external minority and/or female candidates. He did it.
The Raiders interviewed Leslie Frazier, the former Buffalo defensive coordinator. According to ESPN, the club also interviewed Kris Richard, the former co-defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints.
Pierce is the second Black coach to be appointed as head coach during this hiring cycle. The New England Patriots promoted Jerod Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick.
