Ex-Giants Captain Antonio Pierce Named Raiders Interim Head Coach
When the New York Giants hit the Vegas Strip this weekend to square off with the Raiders, they will see a very familiar face patrolling the sideline in Silver and…
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 25: Antonio Pierce #58 of the New York Giants gets the crowd going against the Arizona Cardinals on October 25, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
When the New York Giants hit the Vegas Strip this weekend to square off with the Raiders, they will see a very familiar face patrolling the sideline in Silver and Black: Antonio Pierce.
Pierce who played five years in a Giants uniform from 2005 through 2009, and was a key cog to New York's Super Bowl XLII run, is now the interim head coach of the Raiders.
The edict came down overnight from Raiders owner Mark Davis -- who is proving to be almost as unpredictable as his late father -- fired Head Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager David Ziegler.
Both McDaniels and Ziegler were in the midst of the second season on the job when they got the boot.
According to a report from Adam Schefter the Raiders will be on the hook for the final four years of McDaniels contract. Las Vegas inked McDaniels before the 2022 season despite the team making the playoffs under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia in 2021 after the Jon Gruden controversy.
CHECKERED HISTORY
Despite success as an offensive coordinator in New England when Tom Brady was quarterback, McDaniels has been a bad head coach. He lasted less than two years in Denver from 2009 to 2010, and was famous for trading away Jay Cutler and drafting Tim Tebow.
Then in 2018 McDaniels agreed to become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, before backing out at the 11th hour and staying in New England as O.C.
With Vegas, the Raiders went 6-11 last season and 3-5 to start this season. Like in Denver, McDaniels put a lot of noses out of joint. Wide receiver Davante Adams requested trades out of town, and the Raiders cut ties with its former franchise quarterback Derrick Carr, who later signed with the Saints.
Getting to Know Coach AP
Meanwhile Pierce is only in his second season as a coach at the NFL level. He was an assistant under Herm Edwards staff at Arizona State before resigning during a violations scandal that rocked the program.
As a player, Pierce was a team captain on the Giants. In his five season is blue, he racked up seven sacks and close to 500 tackles at middle linebacker.
The fallout in Vegas could also affect the Jets. Gang Green was linked as a possible destination for receiver Davante Adams prior to the deadline, but he was not dealt. Could we see something in the offseason?
