Las Vegas Raiders Fire Head Coach Antonio Pierce After One Season
In a move that signals a continued reshuffling within the organization, the Las Vegas Raiders announced Tuesday the dismissal of head coach Antonio Pierce after just one full season.
Pierce, 46, led the Raiders to a disappointing 4-13 record in 2024, a stark contrast to his promising 5-4 stint as the interim head coach during the 2023 season. His appointment as the full-time head coach last January followed the firing of Josh McDaniels and was viewed as a chance to restore stability to the franchise.
“We appreciate Antonio’s leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as the head coach,” the Raiders said in an official statement. “Antonio grew up a Raiders fan and his Silver and Black roots run deep. We are grateful for his ability to reignite what it means to be a Raider throughout the entire organization. We wish nothing but the best for Antonio and his family in the future.”
Pierce, a former NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, transitioned into coaching after his retirement from playing. He began his coaching career at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in southern California before moving to the collegiate level at Arizona State University from 2018 to 2021. While at Arizona State, Pierce held multiple roles, including defensive coordinator, before resigning amid an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations.
Joining the Raiders as linebackers coach in 2022, Pierce quickly ascended through the ranks, earning the interim head coach role in 2023. His ability to rally the team during that period briefly rekindled optimism among Raiders fans. However, the team’s struggles in 2024 proved insurmountable, leading to his dismissal.
The Raiders, who have made the playoffs only once since relocating to Las Vegas in 2020, now face another offseason of uncertainty as they search for a new head coach. This decision adds to a growing list of challenges for the franchise, which remains mired in a rebuilding phase.
The team has not yet announced potential candidates for the head coaching vacancy.
