A new report suggests that former New York Giants star Antonio Pierce has stunned decision makers with how good a fit he is to be the team’s next head coach.
In November, the Giants did something they always try to avoid: Firing a head coach during the season. But Brian Daboll gave management no choice. After a pair of losing seasons, he began 2025 by starting 2-8 and blowing sizable fourth-quarter leads on multiple occasions.
Now, they are deep in their search for his replacement. Since they moved on from franchise legend Tom Coughlin in 2015, the team has had six different men as head coach. The organization is hoping they can once and for all find a person who can hold on to the job for more than three years.
So far, there have been a boatload of veteran head coaches who have, or soon will, interview for the position. Including Mike McCarthy, and recently fired head coaches Kevin Stefanski and John Harbaugh. Another candidate for the job is former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.
Antonio Pierce Emerging As Serious Contender for NY Giants Head Coach Job?
The 47-year-old has deep ties to the team after being a key leader on their 2008 Super Bowl team. However, he lasted just a year and a half in Las Vegas and did not have a major coordinator role in the league before getting the job. He lacks experience as a top coach compared to his competitors. But Pierce interviewed for the job this week, and it reportedly “blew” away those involved with the conversations.
“Antonio Pierce, who outcoached Pete Carroll in Las Vegas with a lesser QB, did a very good job with the Giants in his interview,” The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor reports. “‘Blew me away with his growth,’ said someone who knew him from his Super Bowl playing days. Another: ‘Born leader…Learned a lot from Tom Coughlin.'”
- Antonio Pierce record: 9-17
Harbaugh still has to be seen as a favorite to be the next NY Giants head coach because of his impressive resume. However, Pierce won over the loyalty of Raiders players when he was thrust into the interim head coach role three years ago, and beat out other veteran coaches to keep the job in 2024.
What also makes him a serious contender after his interview is that he knows the New York media market better than his competitors. He understands the demands of the job as a coach and player. Having ties to the last great period in NY Giants history also doesn’t hurt.
