A trio of former head coaches reportedly were at the Las Vegas Raiders facility this week to help Antonio Pierce put together a winning scheme for the team’s massive matchup on Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings.
The Raiders’ Week 14 game against the Vikings is a make-or-break moment for the team’s hopes of scraping out a playoff spot in 2023. After winning two straight when Antonio Pierce took over as head coach following Josh McDaniel’s dismissal, Las Vegas has lost their last two and now has seven defeats this season.
A third straight loss this weekend would probably drop them into a playoff chase hole they won’t be able to climb out of this season. So, with a clear urgency to win on Sunday, it seems that head coach Antonio Pierce gave a trio of men with far more experience than him the opportunity to have a greater role in the team’s planning for their matchup with the Vikings.
Tom Coughlin and Marvin Lewis helped with Las Vegas Raiders Week 14 preparation
On Sunday morning, NFL Media league insider Tom Pelissero reported that “former NFL head coaches Tom Coughlin, Marvin Lewis, and Adam Gase were all at Raiders headquarters this past week, sitting in on meetings and providing input on all aspects of the football operation amid preparations for the Raiders’ home game Sunday against the Vikings.”
Pelissero claims the Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach “tapped their brains on everything, from scheduling to scheme to technique to officiating and more.”
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Pierce has been leaning on Coughlin since he took over as head coach and the two have a bond from his days playing for Coughlin with the New York Giants. Pierce also competed for Lewis when they were together with Washington in 2022. Plus, he was a part of the former Cincinnati Bengals head coach’s staff for three seasons at Arizona State.
Gase and Pierce don’t have a previous history, however, he was brought in to help since he has a relationship with interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree, and interim general manager Champ Kelly from their days together with the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos.
It is unclear if the three former head coaches will continue to serve as advisors beyond NFL Week 14. The Raiders face the Vikings today at 4:05 PM ET on CBS.