Interim head coach Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders close up shop on the season Week 18 against the Denver Broncos Sunday afternoon.
Pierce has led Vegas to a respectful 4-4 record since replacing a fired Josh McDaniels as the team’s head coach. Some rightfully believe that this should earn him the full-time gig.
While that still might happen, one report indicates that owner Mark Davis and Co. are going to go big-game hunting. If it doesn’t work out, the Raiders will then circle back to Pierce.
“One thing I’ve heard is that Davis may have a big swing in him, and that he’d go with Pierce if that swing weren’t to work out,” Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported.
“A couple things should really help Antonio Pierce with Mark Davis. The first is that Davis still harbors some regret over not giving Rich Bisaccia another year after Bisaccia united a team that was going through a lot—the Jon Gruden fiasco, and Henry Ruggs’s and Damon Arnette’s off-field problems—and got the Raiders to the playoffs. The second is that Davis does listen to his players.”
There is a lot to unpack here. First off, Davis was under fire for his decision to hire McDaniels instead of promoting Bisaccia to the full-time head coach after the 2021 season. Bisaccia led Vegas to a surprise playoff appearance after Jon Gruden had to resign in disgrace.
Secondly, Raiders stars have come out in support of Pierce since he replaced McDaniels. That includes All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams.
“I’m definitely rooting for him. I love the guy, I love his mentality, his passion for the game is undeniable. His evolution. He’s done a great job,” Adams said of Pierce in late December.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders’ Mark Davis impressed by Antonio Pierce
Jim Harbaugh as likely Las Vegas Raiders target
Even with Pierce seen as a legitimate candidate, there is no harm in seeing what’s out there. Harbaugh is among those being talked about the most right now.
Harbaugh’s decision to hire NFL agent Don Yee to represent him recently continues to add to the rumors that he’s preparing for a return to the pros. Those around the football world are buying this possibility, too.
“I think the Raiders situation is interesting,” former Raiders front office executive Michael Lombardi said recently. “Jim Harbaugh hiring Don Yee is really interesting. But when he made that move, Yee represents Brady, (Raiders QB Jimmy) Garoppolo and he’s kinda got a connection inside that building.”
Harbaugh is set to lead his Michigan Wolverines into the College Football National Championship Game against Washington after besting Alabama in the semifinals New Year’s Day. The head coach has refused to talk publicly about his future in Ann Arbor despite just recently being offered a 10-year, $150 million contract by the Wolverines.
As you already know, Harbaugh was the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach from 2011-14. He led the team to a 44-19-1 record with an appearance in the Super Bowl.
Harbaugh’s pro coaching career started with the then-Oakland Raiders back in 2002. He was their quarterbacks coach when Rich Gannon won the NFL MVP.
Outside of Harbaugh, we’re also likely going to hear six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick linked to the Raiders’ opening. He is almost certainly set to coach his final game with the New England Patriots this coming weekend.