The Raiders will bring in a handful of head coaching candidates over the next few weeks, but it is starting to sound like some of those interviews might not carry a lot of weight.
According to Bleacher Report insider Jordan Schultz, the perception is that Raiders owner Mark Davis is heavily leaning toward two names in the search for his next head coach…
“The Raiders, to me, are really in a two-horse race at this point between Antonio Pierce and Jim Harbaugh,” Schultz said on Monday. “There is a lot of love internally for Pierce, but Mark Davis really like the idea of having a big-time name, a big-time hire for his prestigious franchise. Someone like Jim Harbaugh would really move the needle.”
Last month, Davis said he doesn’t want to mislead anyone during the interview process, so it will be interesting to see how things play out over the next few weeks if Pierce and Harbaugh really are at the top of the owner’s list.
“It’s tough… because I do have Antonio and Champ [Kelly] in those positions, and I’d like for them to get the job,” Davis told The Athletic in December. “So, if I start to feel like that’s definitely the way I’m going to go — which I’m not there — then I don’t want to mislead people in the interview process. So, it’s going to be a really interesting dynamic in trying to keep my mind open to the potential hirings.”
As for other potential head coaching candidates, not a lot of other names have been linked to the Raiders.
Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported last month that former Stanford head coach David Shaw is “a name to keep an eye on” for the Raiders, but Shaw hasn’t been mentioned in any serious reports around the Raiders in weeks.
The other name that could potentially wiggle back into the mix could be Jon Gruden, but with Pierce ending the season on a high note, Gruden is probably not a serious threat to get the job.
If the Raiders had played poorly in the season finale under Pierce, coupled with Harbaugh choosing to go somewhere else, it could have created a scenario where Gruden would have become a viable candidate for the job.
If it actually comes down to Pierce and Harbaugh for the job, the Raider fan base seems to be heavily in favor of bringing back Pierce…
twitter: @raidersbeat
Antonio. Pierce
The fact that Davis did not see the reality in how Pierce earned this job by how this team played under him leaves me to believe Davis will continue making bad decisions for this franchise. Gruden being mentioned without Davis coming forward n putting out that flame further supports how horrible an owner n businessman he is n will remain.
This franchise is doomed until Davis relinquishes the ownership of team. Pierce deserves to have offseason n come back as HC. If the moves made by Pierce n Champ do not provide the data necessary for permanent positions we fans need to seriously contemplate abandoning ship.
If Davis is too blind n dumb to respect the feelings of his star players Davis has no business being in or around football.
You don’t let the players decide ffs. The players praised Mcdogshit in public for how long? Gtfoh dude.
We’d be fine with either. This is an extremely tough pick. Pierce is the emotional pick and the team pick. They don’t know Harbaugh, probably know of him though. My heart goes with Pierce and my mind goes with Harbaugh because of his proven experience at every level and having been an NFL QB. If we hired Harbaugh and are able to retain Patrick Graham as out D.Q. and bring in a franchise QB, both sides of the ball could be incredible. Then the draft and FA’s. But I do love the turn around thar Pierce has done. Glad I’m not Mark Davis!
That’s really a tough decision! Jim Harbaugh or Antonio Pierce?! O one hand, you have this players coach, that has already built a great rapport with the team. In the other hand, you have the leader of men AND a brilliant coach in Him Harbaugh! You simply cannot turn him down if you get the chance to hire him! I mean, it’s Jim Harbaugh!!! He’s a winner and has the pedigree to back it up.
The only “needle” I care about is the wins. Making a slash hasn’t really been very effective in that category. If Harbaugh, or for that matter any person other than AP is hired a rebuild is very likely. Start over. Bring in new schemes, new position coaches, new players, new culture. Yay…not. we been down that road over and over. Give the current staff a full year. Free agency, draft, mini camps, pre season. See how they perform.
I love Antonio Pierce but I gotta say if Mark Davis has the chance to get Jim Harbaugh I’d rather have Harbaugh. Only reason I say that is because Harbaugh is a proven winner wherever he has coached at. I think Pierce could win us games , but I don’t think he’s the guy that could build us into a championship team like the Ravens or 49ers are. To me Harbaugh could . He knows the game from all angles to where Pierce is really just getting started in the coaching side of it. If had been coaching in the NFL for a while and had learned the coaching side of the game from a proven veteran Head Coach I wouldnt mind him getting the job right now. But no matter what I think I honestly believe that M. Davis is going to give the job to Pierce anyways. I just feel like the players are gonna pressure Davis into doing it. While if Harbaugh does take a NFL Head Coach job he’s going to have that team playing for division titles right away while I feel like Pierce is going to have us playing. 500 ball. I’m really just over this team pissing away good Head Coaches and early round draft picks and free agents. It seems like for over 20+yrs we’ve always made the wrong decision on every hire, draft pick and signing. I feel like that’s going to happen again this time.
There are reports Gruden may become the senior offensive assistant for the Saints. If these reports are accurate, forget about Gruden being available. He served as a consultant prior to the season. Before the Saints game with the Bucs, he met with the Saints again, likely in the role of consultant. It’s probably a guess on my part, Gruden’s preferred QB seems to be Derek Carr.
I want Antonio pierce to become the raiders next head coach please Mr Davis do what the fans want and give the job to Antonio pierce….
Regards
Alfredo sumibcay
Over Harbaugh I have to say no. Pierce as great as he was is not a proven winner. At this point after so many bad years we need to take that opportunity if it’s there. We have a good chance also because Harbaugh was a coach with the Raiders before.
I love the way the Raiders have played under the Leadership of Antonio Pierce and I hope the keep him for head coach. Win or loss I am proud to be a Raider and he make us feel like that and the players. It is then Raider way and it feel right.
Just like fans at the end of the Denver *** whooping were saying…’AP, AP!’ I don’t think even Mark Davis can screw this one up. Pierce has earned his chance to prove he can keep us going in the right direction. Everything about the guy is what we were all about. I’m sold on the guy and just like 74% of us voted in the poll… It’s all about AP, baby!
AP HAS SILVER AND BLACK BLOOD IN HIS VEINS. NOBODY BUT AL WANTED MADDEN AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT, AP IS THE SAME GUY.
LET BRADY BE THE OWNER REP AND GET WINK MARTINDALE WITH AP AND STAND BACK!
IVE BEEN A FAN SINCE 62 AND I CAN TELL YOU I HAVE NEVER SEEN A STADIUM LIGHT UP AS THEY DID FOR AP AFTER WEEK 18. NEVER HAVE I SEEN RAIDER NATION SO UNITED.. AND DONT TRADE THE BEST RECIEVER IN FOOTBALL🤬
We’ll probably be fine with AP, but Harbaugh gives us a chance to be great — right away.
We know AP doesn’t stink, but we don’t know if he has greatness within him. We already know Harbaugh can be great.
I think it’s better to play the percentages and go with Harbaugh. Someone like him is not around every year.
Raider Nation
AP has my vote JH is a very good coach with an outstanding record but we have to remember he may be suspended for five games which will carryover into the nfl
Again I love AP! But to add to my earlier post, the other side of hiring Harbaugh is we won’t have to play against him twice a year with a bomb *** team with the Chargers! So we’d screw them outta the coach they most want! Not to mention we’d have an incredible offense to go with our defense. If we don’t sign him the Chargers will, then we’d be screwed!
I’ve just seen the 2024 schedule for the Raiders and it’s even worse than this year’s 2023 schedule. who ever mark Davis chooses to lead us .I see a losing record again and I think we’ll get a top 10 pick for the 2025 draft. I would draft a Quarterback with my first pick in the 2024 draft. And the top 2 will be gone my vote is get Pennix Jr. He should be there at 13 given his bad game against Michigan. And if we get Harbaugh he’ll bring he’s DC with him.we need to fire Graham. we don’t need to keep on getting cornerbacks. They can’t guard WR’s anyway. We have key pieces now we just need a QB and Harbaugh if he’s the coach can work with him. I would keep Antonio peirce for the defensive side if he wants cause the team needs him but we need new coaches to teach.
Do the right thing Marc. A.P. was built for this. He understands the toughness and the Raider demeanor and way of life. He has the pulse of the players and the Nation. We don’t need a big name to play the type of Raider football that I became a custom to growing up. All we need is the grit and swagger. This Nation is full of lovers of our style of football. “Commitment to Excellence “. That is all it takes to “Just Win Baby”.
If it was anyone else but Harbaugh I would say Pierce. But Harbaugh is obviously the best Head Coach available right now. A proven winner in the NFL and College. Very rare.
It really doesn’t matter who Davis hire
s . The raiders will continue to lose as long as the Davis family owns the raiders . Sell sell sell please . You don’t know what you are doing, that is obvious. Go play basketball with your girls.
You can think about it all day long if you want to but still the truth . The last 30years has been nothing. Josh McDaniel ‘s should have never had HC. A former OC for the patriots as HC was a very very poor choice
Pierce or Harbaugh 🤔 at some point in time wasn’t Harbaugh a Pierce? No big name coach was ALWAYS at the top from the start. Pierce just may be the next top coach in the league. Mark, act like Al for once and make a statement. Pierce is the only choice because once a Raider, always a Raider!
The Raiders will continue to lose with Mark Davis as an owner. He makes historically bad impulse decisions based on status. The only way out of this pattern I can see for the Raiders is to find a new owner. But how the heck do you do that?
I MEANT TO SAY IN THE BLACK NOT RED …HA HA
MARK DAVIS IS A GREAT BUSINESS MAN HE HAS MULTIPLE FRANCHISES IN THE BLACK AN BY HIRING AP AN CHAMP I BELIEVE WE HAVE CHANCE TO GET SOME WINS …LETS GO RAIDERS…
TIME TO GET A NEW HEADLINE ON THE RAIDERS . WHAT HAPPEN YOUR WRITERS ALL QUIT OR GET FIRED?