Las Vegas Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce is making the most of his opportunity with the Silver and Black. While what happens in the future is anyone’s guess, you can’t blame the former New York Giant linebacker for going all in right now.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Pierce has had multiple NFL head coaches sit in with him following his ascension in the post-Josh McDaniels era. Among the prestigious group that Pierce has brought in are Tom Coughlin, Marvin Lewis, and Adam Gase (yes, Gase). Coughlin, as most know, led the Giants to a couple of Super Bowl victories, ensuring his place in the pantheon of coaching greats. Lewis, for his part, coached alongside Pierce at Arizona State most recently.
Raiders HC Antonio Pierce seeking guidance from the best…
When it comes to Gase, most fans remember him from his time with the New York Jets, where he became a punchline and a source for memes and GIFs. Still, he has a history with current Raiders offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree as well as interim GM Champ Kelly. That explains his presence, more than likely.
It’s an interesting approach by Pierce, but it makes all the sense. Getting feedback and direct criticism from men who have been there and done that will do wonders for AP.
In terms of next season, assuming he gets the full-time gig, Pierce wants to bring in his own guys to help coach the Raiders. According to local Raiders radio host, Your Boy Q, Pierce’s former teammate LaVar Arrington said recently that “he told me guys that he’s looking to bring in, and if that really happens, that is an amazing addition to the team. If he pulls together what it looks like he’s going to pull together, he is definitely positioning this team to have the same type of feel as the teams that he played on.”
Whether Pierce returns or not, he’s not letting this current opportunity go the wayside. Fans might not have a say in Mark Davis’s decision, but Pierce is definitely making waves here.
*Top Photo: Darrell Craig Harris/Raiders Today
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