The Raiders fired Antonio Pierce on Tuesday and the search for a new head coach begins immediately in Las Vegas.
When Pierce went to the podium on Monday, some perceived that to be a sign the first-year head coach would return in 2025, but on Tuesday morning, Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter said Pierce’s job was still in doubt and by the afternoon Pierce was fired.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Raiders were looking into at least two candidates in the days leading up to Pierce’s firing and something about that process is what held up the decision on Pierce.
“I’m told the Raiders have been continuing to look into at least two candidates in particular that have peaked the interest of ownership behind-the-scenes,” Anderson reported on X. “The availability and interest of said prospects was what was causing the delay on a official decision on Antonio Pierce.”
Based on Anderson’s report, it sounds like the Raiders have a good idea of who they want to be their next head coach, and they must have gotten some level of confirmation from at least one of those candidates that they would take the job if offered.
Like it or not, this is how hires tend to work in the NFL.
The Rooney Rule serves a purpose, but the interview process is only a part of the process. Relationships play a huge role in coaching hires and Tom Brady has relationships all over the league.
It will be interesting to see who the Raiders have been communicating with “behind the scenes” and one of the names that will probably get a lot of attention in the days ahead is Mike Vrabel. At least one insider believes Vrabel would take the Raiders job on account of Brady, but it’s no secret that the New England Patriots are zeroing in on him, as well.
Looking ahead, the Raiders now need to prove to their players that the organization is moving in a good direction. With uncertainty around the quarterback position and even Maxx Crosby, the next head coach in Las Vegas needs to be someone the players believe in.
“In my first five [seasons covering the Raiders], every offseason it was ‘Who do the Raiders want to keep [in] free agency? Now, the tables have reversed,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast this week.
“And in my decades of doing this, this is the only the second season where I’ve ever covered a team where I felt this,” Carpenter continued. “Now it’s a matter of who wants to stay and not stay only for paychecks… [Players] are really going to be watching this franchise now. This franchise is going to have to sell them. It’s going to have to earn it.”
For what it’s worth, GM Tom Telesco is not on the hot seat in Las Vegas, and he will reportedly play a significant role in the Raiders’ search for their next head coach.
x: @raidersbeat
Why would anyone want the job?
Hey Mark why don’t you just bring in all former patriots to coach and play and why you’re at it sell the team to kraft too. What a joke. Mr. Davis is furious in his grave to see what has become of his franchise. I’m a raider fan. But this is severely ridiculous what’s happening here.
It is I’m a raider fan if they knew war was good for them they would have never gotten rid of Derek carr never gotten rid of jack delreo and never sold any part of team to Tom Brady he is a cheater
There are levels to finding the right HC. We’re not searching for someone to join the party, we’re searching for someone to start the party. That’s the difference.
I’m glad they fired Pierce. He was in way over his head.
Liked him but I agree he was way in over his head
Narrow minded reporting. Hmmmm Vrabel has said his next job will come with a great deal more control. And Pete Carrol has had control for decades. Think it’s someone else? I doubt it. If it is, we’re in trouble again
Telesco is GONE
They should target a young offensive-minded coach. This way there will be continuity on that side of the ball, yearly. That way there is no worry of losing our OC if we are successful.
Bring back Chucky
“I’ve become comfortably numb.” So says, Mark Davis.
Same crap different words with the use of a name to give the Nation hope ” Tom Brady “. Big AL is turning in his grave because his son is screwing his legacy and disrespecting the shield. You bring in another the team loses a few positive names the rest of the names playing because they got a free bag of change!
Big Al burned down his own house when he gained majority ownership and went over the wire. Get a clue squeaky
You people are dorks that are ripping on AL. He IS the Raiders! He’s our guy! He is a legend. He is the only person in all of sports that began as a scout, won coach of the year, owns the biggest turnaround in his first year as a head coach, and became a legendary owner and GM. All this while constantly fighting and being screwed by the NFL. I can’t stand punks these days that have no integrity and no respect, even for their own. Why don’t you actually go listen to other NFL greats on AL. What a joke y’all are.
Hey clueless, I was a Raiders fan when you were a potato chip on daddy sheets. Yeah Al built the Raiders. He also burned them down and if you don’t know the history and can’t comprehend why we ended up in the sewer why don’t you take a look at Al’s projector gate with Lane Kiffin and you might get a clue?
That’s hilarious. Al screwed is own legacy mismanaging the team drafting the wrong players and alienating Marcus and hosting other Raiders. The Raiders have been irrelevant for decades. Get a clue
if 74 million americans can vote to bring back trump then marks gonna bring gruden back… he loves him..
Chucky is an improvement that should not have to be made. He should not have been fired to start with. Private conversations, no matter what, should be just that; Private.
As a lifer I cannot understand these losers being brought in to turn the team around when it didn’t work for our rivals. It may not have been wins, but they were looking better than ever in all categories. Should’ve let AP & AOC do their jobs. This instant change isn’t going to happen recycling 2nd hand coaches & staff from other winning teams either.
Your All stupid. IF AP couldn’t See what the problem is then HE had to Go. I’ve been A Raider Fan since 1965 (when the NFL Feared Us). That isn’t the case Now..No one fears Us. The problem is Not so much the HC, it’s been For Years 1st) the OL – they haven’t been able to stop the pass rush (our QB’s have NO time), the OL has been unable to get any kind of consistent running game. 2nd) Our secondary has Sucked for Years, every team has been able to Go Deep on Us at Will. 2024 they needed up the Defence..BUT Not the OL or Secondary. Wake Up Mark & Tom
Al Davis screwed things up when he let John Gruden go the first time, and John kicked the Raiders butt in the Super Bowl. Dang, we had a good team back then.
You fire the head coach, but the true problem is the gm I think he’s a charger plant makes no sense couldn’t win with chargers an we pick him up wow THANKS MARK.
Mario is 100% correct, I’ve been a Raiders fan since 1966 and the whole NFL feared the Raiders. About the offensive line that’s been going on for the last 15 years and no one has address the offensive line. This team always had good offensive lines and their defense were bad ***. Now the team has a owner that doesn’t know nothing about football and a general manager that I question for much if he know what he’s doing. He should also have been fired with AP cause he’s the one that brought in all the stupid players that didn’t contribute to the team, just made the team
worst! Everyone Mark Davis brought in as coaches and General managers have destroyed the team!
mario moet.you have me beat by two years. Imp impressive! But we both remember D.Lamonica J, Tatum G. Upshaw even Frank Reich ! While every one else has to Google oh the sea of hands game. RIP Al. He must be rolling over in his Grave. keep the faith. All the best to you my fellow long time Raiders fan!
We need to rebuild our Offense line and secondary with a ans soild run game to go with
Our next coach needs to be able to build around O’Connor he a able Qb thats just to give a chance
It’s a joke. How many coaches have been fired now in the last 15 years??? Too many!! AP got screwed. Every good quarterback was taken in the 2024 draft. It wouldn’t of mattered who was the coach. Everyone knew this team was crap before the season started!!! Patrick Graham is absolutely horrible at defense. HORRIBLE. Raiders have maybe 5 great players. But it takes 22. Not hard to figure out!!! Huge salary cap this coming year. We’ll see!!!
David, The Raiders Need to work on their OL & Secondary. Both areas Need Help Badly. They have Sucked For Years. No pass protection No run game & Everyone can Go Deep on Us at Will.
You are clueless. The team needs a QB, just like every other team in the NFL. This isnt the 60s or 70s or 80s or even 90s anymore…..QB is where it starts. Then you build the O-line and D-line, and then on and on etc…
The Raiders SUCK
I’ve been a Raiders fan since 1968 As I was said in other comments that’s when we were feared right now you have several players that would have fit in Mad Maxxx. Spillane just a few come on guys get the coach that bring back well disabled and players who were proven true Raiders and then to only be beat by the coach who built guys like Rich Gannon long story short get the guy who’s done what Al Davis did best the NFL now’s he’s a Maverick
Ohh by the way if all possible when the Raiders rise and compete in their Super Bowl give one to both Rich Gannon and Tim brown a ring also
Louisiana Boy says Mark do what your Father The Great Al Davis would have done Peace
Who’s the other candidate besides Vrable? You said there was two so you must have heard who the other name is.
Long time die heart Raiders fan we need good OC and upgrade o-line got to be able to rush the ball, and we have to have QB that can throw the ball we you are behind in a game, secondary could use up grade as well. Please don’t get old retread coaches