There has not been a clear indication to what Raiders owner Mark Davis is thinking on the future of head coach Antonio Pierce, but an NFL Network report on Monday said there is “optimism in the building” that Pierce is going to keep his job.
”I know a lot of folks think it’s a foregone conclusion that [the Raiders] are going to make a coaching change, but those folks are on the outside,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday.
”On the inside of the building it’s sounds like there’s a lot of optimism that Antonio Pierce will continue as the head coach of the Raiders… Davis has been pleased with the last couple of weeks, understands there’s not a lot of talent, and there is a lot of youth on the roster.”
The next day, Garafolo doubled down on those comments.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a statement at some point today indicating that Antonio Pierce is going to continue to be the head coach of the Raiders in 2025,” Garafolo said on Monday.
As of Tuesday morning, the Raiders haven’t made any statements on Pierce’s status, and that means the situation could still go in a lot of different directions.
Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter commented on Pierce’s job on Tuesday and he still believes the odds aren’t in Pierce’s favor.
“There has yet to be a decision made on the future of Antonio Pierce,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “I’m just giving you what I’m hearing. I’m hearing a little bit more that that is going to be change,” Carpenter continued. “I said to you on Sunday that it was very close. I was hearing from more people that thought he would not be retained. After conversations yesterday, I’m hearing it a little bit more that he might not be retained, but nobody knows except Mark Davis.”
As some have pointed out, Pierce met with members of the media for his usual Monday press conference and that could be interpreted as a sign that Pierce’s job is safe.
But that might not necessarily be the case.
“I’ve had people say to me ‘Now that he had a press conference, is it a given that he’ll be back?’ No, I don’t believe that,” Carpenter said Tuesday’s podcast. “[That] doesn’t mean he won’t be, but I wouldn’t read the tea leaves that way.”
If Pierce does return to the Raiders in 2025, there’s a lot he’s going to have to figure out even before the team can dive into rebuilding the roster.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has an expiring contract and losing one of the most respected defensive coordinators in the league would be a significant development.
The Jaguars requested permission to interview Graham for their head coaching vacancy and if Graham doesn’t get a head coaching job this time around, the expectation is that his next defensive coordinator role will be somewhere other than Las Vegas.
Many believe offensive coordinator Scott Turner could be on the move, as well, and if the Raiders need a new offensive coordinator, it could be a challenge to get a top candidate with Aidan O’Connell at the top of the dept chart.
If Pierce is retained, any prospective coordinators will have to be comfortable joining a ‘lame duck’ head coach with no stability at the quarterback position.
The Raiders will be in the market for a franchise quarterback in the offseason, but they will have to find an offensive coordinator at least two months before they know with certainty who their quarterback is going to be.
There are a lot of names that have been tossed around as potential quarterback options for the Raiders, and Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy might be at the top of their wish list.
The assumption is that the Vikings will want to re-sign Sam Darnold and if Darnold returns to Minnesota on a long-term deal, at least one NFL media personality believes they will entertain offers for McCarthy.
“If it’s a mega deal for Sam Darnold, then J.J. McCarthy is going to be on the trade market and the going price for J.J. is going to be a first rounder,” Yahoo and FOX Sports host Jason Fitz said last week on Raider Nation Radio’s The Morning Tailgate.
“Every draft pundit I’ve talked to has said pretty squarely that if they were ranking last year’s quarterbacks, J.J. would be ahead of this year’s class,” Fitz continued. “So, J.J., in the eyes of many scouts is actually a better prospect than Cam [Ward] or Shedeur [Sanders]. My question is… is one first rounder going to get J.J., or is it going to be a first and something else? And you better know where the health stands on it.”
x: @raidersbeat
Even after a bad season, we don’t have much to look forward to, bandaid qb and least experienced coach in AFC west.
Isn’t that just like Mark “no clue” Davis, to sit on his hands while other teams are lining up for interviews with Ben Johnson! No wonder this team continues to be the joke of the NFL. SMH