Jon Gruden?
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No kidding, that actually is a surprise.
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This is the correct move.

Pierce got his players to show heart and play their best especially on defense. Lots of great reasons this will go in the right direction and it will start with Pierce not being boastful of himself. He is already bringing in coaches from his past in Lewis and Tom Coughlin (advisor role). Keeping DC Graham will be important.

Bringing in experienced OC Kliff Kingsbury could really help as well. I think QB and OC will be the big factor for Pierce to succeed. O'Connell didn't get a fair shake overall due to 4th round draft status and McDaniel's putting his QB eggs elsewhere but Pierce stood by him in the end. Hard for a rookie pocket passer like O'Connell to succeed when your buried on the depth chart in training camp and the coach never plans on playing you.

WR Adams could be a trade piece for the Raiders. They have a good chunk of cap space as well. I don't see them signing Jacobs FYI.

On Defense the Raiders have Crosby but also drafted DE Wilson in the 1st last year and he started to show something towards the end of the year (he was drafted with a known injury and wasn't expected to play much this year). The big star that started to shine as the year progressed was 3rd year DE player Koonce. He was wrecking OL as the season progressed (esp under Pierce).

The Raiders have pieces to challenge for the AFC WEST title next year but could also go south. We shall see.
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they did seem to do a 180 when he took over. Whether that's because Pierce is just a better coach or maybe McDaniels was a cancer and removing the cancer cured that team. I guess we'll find out next year.
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I guess the question that will be answered with results is:

Was the increased effort once Pierce took over a symbol of the players dislike for Josh McDaniels, their love for Pierce…or both?

A lot of these situations, it’s the first option and it flames out. I think it’s a good hire, though. Pierce had a long career leading good defenses as a player and when he went into coaching, he seemed to have a big effect on his players ability to play at a higher level.
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Maybe. But we've also seen way more often than not head coaches kick ass during the honeymoon period only to struggle once they have to install their own culture and team.
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He coached this dude in HS, College, and now the NFL. What does it mean? We shall see.


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We also know that Davis has a hard on for Chris Jones. They addition would make that D-line just sick!
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Now I'm more convinced it was the right move.

:-)
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Great motivator but his success or failure will be who he chooses on his offensive staff.
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That plus whoever we end up with as QB. AOC is a place holder, not the future.
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Antonio Pierce's wife files for bankruptcy stemming from Raiders HC's previous car dealership involvements

Pierce is subject to judgments amounting to more than $28 million, according to court documents

Jocelyn Pierce, the wife of Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, according to The Athletic. And the filing stems from the coach's previous involvement with car dealerships, with Pierce subject to judgments amounting to more than $28 million.

Pierce's wife initially filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona on June 12, per Tashan Reed, and court documents indicate that two different lenders -- Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation and Hyundai Capital America -- "recently attempted to garnish Antonio's wages with the Raiders," as well as "satisfy their judgments from the couple's assets."

"In the 2010s, Mr. Pierce was convinced to invest in car dealerships," the filing said. "Despite his role as a mere passive investor with no oversight or management of the business' affairs, Mr. Pierce was asked to sign various documents. Although the Debtor has no direct knowledge of the events, personal guaranties were later produced bearing Mr. Pierce's name. When several of the businesses defaulted on their loans, the lenders obtained judgements against the businesses and Mr. Pierce as a guarantor. The Debtor is informed that these judgements amount to more than $28 million."

Pierce, 45, is entering his first full season as the Raiders' head coach after Las Vegas removed the interim tag from his title back in January. Pierce got the job after guiding the Raiders to a 5-4 record after Las Vegas owner Mark Davis relieved Josh McDaniels of his duties after a 3-5 start.

Pierce, who served as the Raiders' linebackers coach prior to his promotion, broke into coaching in 2014 as the head coach at California's Long Beach Poly High School in 2014. He spent four years in that role before becoming the linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator at Arizona State, a post he held from 2018-21.

A former Pro Bowl linebacker, Pierce enjoyed a nine-year NFL career with Washington and the New York Giants. He was part of a Giants defense that played an integral role in New York's shocking win over the previously undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/a...-involvements/
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Seems like that might be a serious distraction.
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Mark let Crosby's trade demands make AP the full time coach.

Reap what you sow.
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I'm sorry, but if you are simply "investing" in a business why would you provide personal assets as loan guarantees for that business if you aren't the primary owner? Also, real shocker that a car dealership would do shady things like having him sign papers that he didn't know the details of what it was he was signing.
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