HENDERSON, Nev. — With the Raiders’ season over, all eyes turn to owner Mark Davis and whether he will overhaul the franchise over the next several weeks or keep the key leadership pieces in place.
Interim coach Antonio Pierce made the case for the latter approach, guiding Las Vegas to a 5-4 record after he took over at midseason. The Raiders, who fired coach Josh McDaniels on Oct. 31, went 8-9 overall.
“Everything that Mark asked me to do, I tried to do my best to accomplish that,” Pierce said Monday. “Now we came up short with the playoffs, but I think what you saw was a team that was very competitive each and every week. Total buy-in.”
NFL hiring rules dictate that Davis must conduct a search that includes interviewing at least two external candidates who are minorities and/or women.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh could be the hottest name in the NFL hiring market given his success with the Wolverines and previously in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, who he took to three NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. His recent hiring of agent Don Yee only increased speculation of a possible return to the NFL.
Yee also represents Tom Brady, who has applied for an ownership stake with the Raiders and is a part owner of the WNBA two-time champion Las Vegas Aces, also owned by Davis.
Davis’ history is to try to make a splashy hire, and Harbaugh would certainly qualify. But after Pierce revitalized the locker room, he has given the owner plenty to think about.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, left, talks with Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce following an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in Las Vegas. The Raiders won 27-14. Credit: AP/John Locher
“I can honestly tell you that I don’t know where I would be right now mentally and physically if AP hadn’t taken over, and that’s no shot at Josh and what he was doing,” tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. “But for me, it just wasn’t going in the right direction. AP taking over and…
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