Antonio Pierce Hiring: Las Vegas Raiders Steer Clear of Past Mistakes as HC Announcement Excites Maxx Crosby

The Las Vegas Raiders’ front office has officially elected Antonio Pierce as the head coach. Placing its faith in the former NFL star, the team promoted the interim coach to a more forefront role. A decision in contrast to what they had taken two years back. The former coach of the Raiders, Josh McDaniels was fired from the team along with GM Dave Zielgar 24 hours after the game against the Lions, who dominated the Raiders 26-14.

While wide receiver Devante Adams had opportunities for two long touchdowns, QB Jimmy Garoppolo missed both throws, resulting in a massive setback. This dismissal of McDaniels ended his head coaching tenure after just 25 games and less than two seasons in his 6-year contract. However, the decision seemed to have the backing of fans and experts alike.

Thus, the inclusion of the new head coach Pierce has consoled many hearts, including Maxx Crosby. The star defender took to Instagram to congratulate and welcome his new coach, sharing a story where he excitedly wrote “LETS WORK” along with a photo of Pierce and the team’s hiring announcement. He also shared another story, praising Pierce’s “leadership” calling it “The Raider Way.”

Before Pierce was officially appointed as the HC, Crosby had already expressed his “100% support” for him. He, along with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, voted for Pierce, explaining “That’s basically how the whole locker room feels.” Initially, after Josh McDaniels’ firing, the Raiders kept Antonio Pierce as the interim coach for the rest of the season. Pierce led the team to a 5-4 finish in the 2023 season. Furthermore, gaining the team’s trust by embracing the Raider culture, along with some spectacular finishes this season.

During his short interim tenure, the team achieved notable victories including a successful debut against the Jets, a breakthrough triumph against the Chiefs, and a dominant 63-21 win over the LA Chargers. Now, given the new role, more promising outcomes are expected of the legend. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Pierce’s initial responsibility as head coach will involve many steps.

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This includes dealing with the offensive side of the ball and bringing more balance and stability. Undoubtedly, as the announcement concerning Pierce as the Raiders HC has made the headlines, many fans have expressed their joy as well. Emphasizing how the Raiders did not repeat the same mistake they made two years ago while hiring McDaniels, a couple of them recalled the ‘AJ!’ chants during the Broncos game.

What was the past mistake the Raiders made two years back?

Two years ago, the Raiders chose to hire Josh McDaniels over then-interim coach Rich Bisaccia. The latter had successfully led the team to the playoffs. However, less than two seasons later, McDaniels was fired after a disappointing loss. The then-interim coach led the team 7-5, even securing the playoff berth. Alas! In came the Bengals game and out went the dreams of the Raiders as they lost in the wild card round.

The only previous interim managers to guide a team to the postseason were Bruce Arians and Bisaccia. In addition, it was the Raiders’ lone postseason trip since 2002. This decision raised questions about why McDaniels was chosen, especially when the team was performing well under Bisaccia.

Despite players and coaches rooting for Bisaccia, the owner decided to hire McDaniels. Sadly, the results produced by the forme HC did not appear favorable. So, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that the Raiders have steered clear the past mistake and this time given chance to the rising interim coach, Antonio Pierce. What do you think of this new from the Raiders’ side? Share your insights in the comments!

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