The Las Vegas Raiders promoted linebackers coach Antonio Pierce to interim head coach following Tuesday’s firing of head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler.
Pierce, 45, is in his second season with the Raiders after working as an associate head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Arizona State from 2018-21.
He played linebacker in the NFL for nine seasons with Washington (2001-04) and the New York Giants (2005-09), making the Pro Bowl in 2006, helping the Giants win Super Bowl XLII and retiring with 691 tackles, nine sacks and seven interceptions in 124 games (94 starts).
“The Las Vegas Raiders are committed to undergo a comprehensive search for a head coach once the season is complete,” the team said in a statement.
Pierce will make his coaching debut against one of his former teams when the Raiders (3-5) host the Giants (2-6) on Sunday.
The Raiders also reportedly parted with offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi on Wednesday. Las Vegas has not yet scored more than 19 points in a game this season. Lombardi and McDaniels were responsible for play-calling.
Multiple reports indicated that Sunday’s game could also see rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell take over for the erratic Jimmy Garoppolo.
O’Connell, 25, a fourth-round pick out of Purdue, started the Raiders’ Week 4 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers when Garoppolo was out with a concussion. In Week 7, O’Connell relieved starter Brian Hoyer in a road loss to the Chicago Bears when Garoppolo was sidelined by a back injury.
O’Connell has completed 34 of 52 passes for 313 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in two games. He has been sacked seven times and has one rushing touchdown.
Garoppolo, who turns 32 on Thursday, signed a three-year $72.75 million contract ($34 million guaranteed) in March to replace Derek Carr as the Raiders’ franchise quarterback.
Garoppolo has thrown an NFL-high nine interceptions in six starts this season, completing 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,205 yards and seven touchdowns.
McDaniels, 47, was midway through his second season on the job, having signed a six-year deal in January 2022. The Raiders went 6-11 last year. This season, their three wins have come against opponents that currently have losing records Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots).
Las Vegas lost 26-14 to the host Detroit Lions on Monday night.
Ziegler, 46, also was in his second year in his role.
Both McDaniels and Ziegler came to Las Vegas from the Patriots.
McDaniels was an assistant coach at New England from 2001-08 before an unsuccessful stint as the Broncos’ head coach (8-8 in 2009, 3-9 when he was fired in 2010). He spent the 2011 season as the St. Louis Rams’ offensive coordinator, then returned to work under Bill Belichick as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator from 2012 to 2021.
Ziegler worked in the New England front office from 2013-21, including stints as director of pro personnel and director of player personnel.
–Field Level Media