The Giants are interviewing their former linebacker and ex-Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce for their head coaching vacancy on Thursday and Friday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Pierce, 47, began his NFL playing career as a Commanders undrafted free agent. He emerged as a starter in his fourth season and parlayed that into a multi-year deal with the Giants. Pierce started 94 games over the next five years, including a Pro Bowl nod in 2006 and a Super Bowl victory in 2007. He retired from playing after the 2009 season.
Pierce then began his coaching career, first as the head coach at Long Beach Poly, one of the most prestigious high school football programs in the country. He was then hired by Arizona State to wear multiple hats as a coach and recruiter, but his activites in the latter role force his resignation before the 2022 season amid an NCAA investigation. Pierce was then hired by then-Raiders HC Josh McDaniels as the team’s new linebackers coach. Las Vegas tapped Pierce as their interim HC after McDaniels’ Halloween firing in 2023, and the team went 5-4 to close out the season. That helped Pierce earn the permanent job for the 2024 season, but a 4-13 record got him fired.
His connection with the Giants makes Pierce an intriguing (and perhaps sentimental) choice, similar to the Jets hiring ex-cornerback Aaron Glenn last offseason. But he only has one-and-a-half seasons as a head coach, and his full season in charge of the Raiders did not go well. He was deal with a bad roster, and you could argue Las Vegas was using him as a placeholder as they decided their long-term direction. Pierce will likely need to impress New York’s decision-makers in his interview(s) to show he can build the culture and scheme the team is looking for.
The Giants are also conducting a multi-day initial interview with former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. He will then meet more members of the team’s search committee on Friday.
I might as well ready my resume too
“Pierce, 47, began his playing career as (an) undrafted free agent” with the Washington Redskins.
These times demand the truth!
Very hard to hire a head coach with that resume. Pierce had a full-time head coach job for one season and he was the second least qualified head coach I can recall (Kitchens was even less, not counting Jeff Saturday, who was only interim). Pierce got the full time job because the players rallied around him in large part because he was a breath of fresh air to them after Josh McDaniels. I think if Pierce wants another NFL head coach job, he has to either be a coordinator for the first time at the NFL level or go coach in college.
“Antonio Pierce coached at Arizona State University (ASU) from around 2017/2018 as linebackers coach, eventually becoming Associate Head Coach/Co-DC, but left in 2022 due to NCAA recruiting violations he orchestrated, leading to a show-cause penalty for him and ASU after an NCAA investigation revealed he pressured staff to host prospects during dead periods, offering perks like off-campus trips, which resulted in ineligible players joining the team. ”
Yeah. He sounds perfect.
I fully believe he did good work with the Raiders before last year, but he’s never been a coordinator at the NFL level, never been a head coach at the pro or college level other than that stint with the Raiders, and he hasn’t spent that much time coaching in the NFL aside from that. Seems like a solid leader. I don’t particularly care about NCAA violations. But the resume isn’t a good one for a new HC hire.
I read Phillip Rivers might get interviews this year. High school HC to NFL HC?
Freddie Kitchens was a QBs coach and TEs coach before his lone Browns tenure as HC.
He went from interim OC to full time head coach. Insane hire.
‘…you could argue Las Vegas was using him as a placeholder as they decided their long-term direction…’ Someone recently commented a PFR article enquiring how many ex HC’s is Davis paying? It came to around 4. Maybe Mark isn’t the poor billionaire everyone claims he is.
2026:
Pete Carroll $16 mil
Gruden $10 mil
McDaniels $10 mil
Pierce $8 mil
Chip Kelly (OC) $6 mil
$50 mil total to have guys NOT coach the teams (face palm)
Thanks! The only thing Davis is poor at is running a franchise. Utter failure of an owner.
They settled with Gruden over 4 years ago
link to cbssports.com
Also Pierce signed a 2 year contract to be the HC before the 2024 season. That contract expired this past Sunday.
Does that make Mark a good owner? Look at his record since taking over from his dad.
No it makes him a moron. Since I’ve been a Raider fan for almost 60 years I don’t have to look at his record I know it. My point, which you obviously missed, is that he is not paying 2 of the coaches listed.
This is why the Raiders job is attractive if you ask me. You can sign a big contract and you know you’ll be fired well before it’s over. If you sign a four year, $40 million deal, it’s really a two or even one year, $40 million deal. It’s a great job depending on your future career goals. At Harbaugh’s age, grabbing a quick boatload of cash for only a one or two year commitment might be enticing!
Well said!
Lawsuit for token Rooney rule interview incoming.
While i dont think he is or was a very qualified head coach, I dont think he really got a fair shake with the Raiders. Is it really his fault he couldn’t win games with Aiden O Connell and Minshew at QB?
I do think he should probably be a linebacker coach and eventually a DC before taking another head coach role.
His high school players at Long Beach Poly ran all over him. If a HS AD knew this how did the Raiders not know? Giants to make another bonehead hire
you really think there’s any chance the Giants hire Pierce? Stick to being a pizza boy