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Antonio Pierce gets seal of approval from Tom Coughlin

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Antonio Pierce gets seal of approval from two-time Super Bowl champion head coach

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 1/20/24

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce received a seal of approval from Tom Coughlin, his former coach with the Giants.

On Friday, the Raiders lifted the interim tag from Pierce's title, making him the team's 11th full-time head coach since 2002.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Coughlin said, "I could not be prouder of Antonio Pierce being named head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders... This is the team he grew up watching, and his belief in himself and in the players is why he is there."

Former Giants’ HC Tom Coughlin on the Raiders hiring Antonio Pierce: “I could not be prouder of Antonio Pierce being named head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I’m excited for him, his family, and the franchise. This is the team he grew up watching, and his belief in himself and…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 20, 2024

Coughlin coached Pierce from 2005-09, when Pierce was named to his lone Pro Bowl team (2006) and became a Super Bowl champ (2007).

He wasn't alone in his praise of Pierce. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, ESPN's Robert Griffin III and former Giants teammates Justin Tuck and Brandon Short were among those who celebrated Pierce's promotion.

God Bless @Raiders HeadCoach Antonio Pierce!!!! Wow God is good. All he needed was opportunity. Thank u to all the @Raiders players, fans and Faithful for supporting my Brother. @ConSchwartz @SMAC
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 20, 2024

The Raiders and Mark Davis got it right by hiring Antonio Pierce. Being an NFL Head Coach isn’t about calling the perfect blitz or scheming open a wide open TD pass. It’s about leading men and getting them to see your vision and make it their identity. Antonio Pierce HAS IT. pic.twitter.com/yQnJDbyu0X
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 19, 2024

Congratulations to my brother @AntonioPierce - the Raiders new head coach. Started from the bottom now we here! pic.twitter.com/TzbdsNVRTc
— Brandon Short (@brandonshort43) January 20, 2024

Congrats to my dude @AntonioPierce and the @Raiders They made a good choice !!!
— Justin Tuck (@JustinTuck) January 19, 2024

As NFL insider Ian Rapoport noted, the decision also shuts down the concern that star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby could request a trade.

The new #Raiders coach: Antonio Pierce.

Players will be psyched. And now Maxx Crosby doesn’t need to ask to be traded. pic.twitter.com/x3UrMKfMtu
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2024

Last Saturday, Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Crosby would ask out of Las Vegas if Pierce wasn't named head coach.

The Pierce signing also means the Raiders didn't repeat their mistake from their last coaching search. Instead of promoting interim head coach Rich Bisaccia, who led Las Vegas to the postseason, owner Mark Davis hired Josh McDaniels.

In 2022, Raiders players wanted Mark Davis to hire interim HC Rich Bissacia. Davis went elsewhere.

Two years later, Raiders players wanted Mark Davis to hire interim HC Antonio Pierce. This time, Davis has listened. https://t.co/RvvGqHKap0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 19, 2024

After Pierce was officially hired, Schefter also shared comments from Crosby and star offensive playmakers, wide receiver Davante Adams and running back Josh Jacobs, with all expressing their excitement about next season.

What Raiders players have said about their new permanent HC Antonio Pierce:

Davante Adams: "He embodies what it means to be a Raider and that mentality, that swag and all the things that he endorses is the things that I believe in."

Maxx Crosby: "There's only 32 head… https://t.co/RvvGqHKap0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 19, 2024

As widely hailed as the hiring was, getting an endorsement from Coughlin, a two-time Super Bowl-winning coach, is as good a sign as any the Raiders made the right choice

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