Antonio

Pierce

In Gutierrez’s exact words, GM Tom Telesco and HC Antonio Pierce have the signoff “to make a move, any move ... so long as it makes sense.” The buzz around Las Vegas eying the quarterbacks of this year’s draft class has been prevalent all offseason. There were previously reports that the team was hyper-focused on the position at the NFL Combine. Pierce even told reports that he doesn’t want a “Band-Aid” at quarterback. It’s clear the team wants an upgrade over Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew for 2024. What remains to be determined is how much they are willing to spend to land a top passing prospect. Currently sitting at No. 13 in the draft, Telesco will have to move up to get one of the top four prospects on most boards. If not, the Raiders could take a cheaper shot on Oregon’s Bo Nix or Washington’s Michael Penix.

The Raiders are widely believed to be one of the more quarterback-hungry teams this offseason. With Jimmy Garoppolo expected to be cut early into the offseason and second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell profiling more as a career backup, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier this month that they could make “a potential move up in the draft” to secure a young signal-caller, which will likely be required of the team that currently holds the No. 13 overall pick in April’s draft. If the Raiders don’t move up in the draft, they’ll want to make sure they go as in-depth as possible on quarterbacks outside the consensus top four to ensure they don’t take a massive reach on a quarterback they hope will be the cornerstone of their franchise for years to come.

Vegas is also interviewing former Bears OC Luke Getsy to run the offense. Van Pelt was surprisingly fired after the Browns offense caught fire with Joe Flacco under center over the regular season’s final month. Whoever lands the Raiders offensive coordinator job will probably be tasked with implementing a run-first offense under head coach Antonio Pierce.

Per Rapoport, most of the coaches on the offensive side of the ball will not be retained. Hardegree took over the offense after head coach Josh McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi were fired mid-season. Having removed the interim tag from his title, newly minted head coach Antonio Pierce will now be tasked with filling out his staff on offense.

Pierce drew the support of fans and players alike after he went 5-4 in his interim head coaching role for the Raiders. The Raiders were 3-5 when Pierce took over and played a far more inspired brand of football after Josh McDaniels was let go. Pierce’s most outspoken reporter was EDGE Maxx Crosby, who hinted he would request a trade if the team did not bring Pierce back for the 2024 season. Pierce becomes the fourth head coach to be hired by the Raiders since 2015, and brings with him years of defensive pedigree as a former linebacker from 2001 to 2009. The Raiders still need to secure a general manager, but their head coach is now in place.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Pierce is the leading candidate to land the head coaching gig for Las Vegas. Pierce’s players have supported his bid to be the full-time boss throughout his successful run as the team’s interim head coach and star defensive end Maxx Crosby has even gone as far as saying he will explore a trade request if Pierce isn’t hired. Davante Adams is also among the players who have been vocal about their support of Pierce. Aside from the Raiders, the Titans and now the Falcons have also shown interest in hiring Pierce. We fully expect him to return to Las Vegas in a permanent role, but at least two other teams will make him a pitch.

Pierce has garnered the support of current Raiders players after coaching the team to a 5-4 record as the interim head coach. He started the season as the Raiders’ linebackers coach and took over after Josh McDaniels was fired midseason. The Raiders will look at other options, but Pierce’s success and support from key players have him as the leading candidate to coach the team.

Pierce took over after Josh McDaniels was fired midseason and immediately began to turn things around. He coached the team to a 5-4 record to close the year and has been unanimously supported to be the team’s future head coach by his players. Not only does he have a shot at removing the interim tag from his title in Las Vegas, but the Raiders may now have some competition for his services. Having fired Mike Vrabel after two consecutive losing seasons, the Titans are also in need of a new boss.

Pierce began his NFL career as a player, starting at linebacker 94 times from 2001 to 2009. He played for Washington and the New York Giants. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and won a Super Bowl ring in New York. Pierce donned the headset a few years after retiring, first as a high school head coach. He eventually joined Arizona State and worked his way up the ranks to defensive coordinator in 2021. Pierce then joined the Raiders as a linebackers coach in 2022.

The former Washington and Giants linebacker of nine seasons, Pierce made one Pro Bowl as a player and appeared in 124 career games. Pierce left Arizona State to pursue a job in the NFL and lands his first coaching gig with the Silver and Black after being on the Sun Devils’ staff for four seasons, graduating all the way up to defensive coordinator last year. He’ll be a top assistant under new DC Patrick Graham.