It has been a disappointing first year for Antonio Pierce as head coach of the Raiders, and there has been discussion about whether he will be able to hold onto his job if the season doesn’t turn around.
With Tom Brady now in the mix in Las Vegas, the expectation is that the team’s new minority owner will have a heavy involvement in the football side of the organization.
That could mean that Brady will want a head coach of his choosing in the building, and a Pro Football Post report on Monday indicated there is a good chance that will happen.
“Pierce’s job is not safe and there is a growing expectation in league circles that Mike Vrabel is going to be the next head coach of the Raiders,” the report said.
“Brady was involved in the process that led to the hiring of Pierce, but sources have indicated that Pierce was not Brady’s top choice for the job. Should the team move on from Pierce, expect the Raiders to follow Rooney Rule procedures during the NFL’s hiring process. Current defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who was on the New England coaching staff from 2009-15, has a relationship with Brady and is highly respected at every level within the organization. Graham was a candidate for the head-coach job last year, and his inclusion in the interview process this time around wouldn’t be a formality to satisfy Rooney Rule obligations. Still, Vrabel is considered the front runner for the job, according to several sources who spoke to Pro Football Post on a condition of anonymity.”
It’s only the third week of November, but when it comes to preparing coaching staffs for next year, the conversations around the league are already underway.
There’s a chance Brady doesn’t have any intention of waiting to see how the season plays out for Pierce before he makes a decision on what he wants to do after the season.
There will be Rooney Rule obligations, but it can be difficult for candidates to make a strong enough impression in a short series of interviews. Brady has a relationship with Vrabel and it’s unlikely that he’ll choose to roll the dice on a head coach he doesn’t have familiarity with.
As for Pierce, his biggest regret on the season has to be the decision to hire offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Injuries have played a role in the demise of the season, but the Raiders have consistently been one of the worst offensive teams in the NFL.
At times, the offense was essentially unwatchable under Getsy.
On Sunday, the offense showed improvement under newly-promoted offensive coordinator Scott Turner, and that dynamic only emphasized how bad the offense had been under Getsy. It’s too late to salvage the season now, but if the offense can find some life in the weeks ahead, maybe Pierce will be able to make the case for another year as head coach.
x: @raidersbeat
I’m glad they are going to get rid of Antonio Pierce. I never liked the inmates running the asylum. I think Mike Vrabel would be a great hire.
Graham is a joke. He can’t even coach on the fly during games. Competent OC’s with fair offenses put up above average numbers against him. HC? Graham? LOL NO
It really doesn’t matter now. Playoffs hopes are a disappointment. I don’t think Antonio Pierce is to blame for the failure of our team. This season is worse. I was an afraid this was going to happen. We need a new offense. It doesn’t matter what offensive coordinator you bring in. The season is over. We are in the who wants to be here next season. That’s where we at.
IDK about him. He was the head coach but he never addressed the bad play calling. I’m sure from a coaches view, he saw the same dismal plays being run that we the RN4L was seeing. So, will we have more of this if he is kept? We’re losing quality players to other teams.
Mr. Davis, it’s your team not the players . Your the one putting up the money for every one and to run team right. My thought was HARBOUGH! but that’s gone. Vrabel sounds great and pierce was a bad decision as I see it. Have to go with your own thoughts on these kind of decisions. But like I said ITS YOUR TEAM!!!!
Wasn’t he a coach of the titans.. now he not
As long suffering fans, Brady is our biggest hope of this turning around. Mark has been a total disaster in running this team. Bad decision after bad decision. I don’t have another 20 years left to waste watching such an inept sports team! Brady, please bring some much needed common sense to this team!
Wow. The level of illiteracy here is rather scary.
Look at Raiders fans that want to bail on AP after one season with NO QB….The thing is you can’t keep firing coaches after 1 year. The only times Raiders have been competitive in last 20 years is when they have a coach for more than a year. Fire coach, hire new one, fire next year repeat..I say give AP a chance with a QB and some better players. These players are awful.