Being an asset to a franchise comes with certain extra responsibilities, but it also comes with influence. Before Antonio Pierce was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders as head coach, Maxx Crosby was quite vocal in his support of getting Pierce on board. Crosby even hinted how his time with the team could come to an end if it didn’t take place. “I want to be a Raider. But if we go in a different direction, there is nothing that is off the table,” he had stated back then.

But after one 4-13 season with the Raiders, Pierce got fired. He was also the interim head coach in the 2023 season and had a 5-4 record after Josh McDaniels was sacked. What does Crosby have to say about Pierce getting terminated? After all, Crosby had used his influence to get Pierce the seat.

“Last year, I was very vocal about wanting AP [Antonio Pierce] here. That’s very well-known, you know what I mean? And I don’t take that back. There are certain things that I have done in my career that maybe ‘I shouldn’t have said this’. Or maybe ‘I should have said more’. But where I’m currently at, that’s not my job. Imma be real. That’s not my job. I know my influence, I know what winning looks like. But at the end of the day, I strictly am focused on what I do best, and being at my best is going to help my teammates, my coaches, being a leader, taking care of the things I can control.

“So, at the end of the day, I have a great relationship with Mark [Davis]. Me and Mark have been close for years. I love the guy to death and we have great conversations all the time. But at the end of the day, he’s going to do what he thinks is best, and that’s his thing.”

Translation: He is not touching office politics.

Antonio Pierce Accepts Raider Nation’s Demands for HC’s Firing After Sharing Offseason Plans With Tom Telesco

After the Raide͏rs wrapped u͏p͏ th͏eir season with a͏ win again͏st t͏he Br͏oncos in͏ 2023, DE Maxx Crosby soaked in the͏ momen͏t ͏a͏s͏ fans c͏heered for head coach ͏Antonio ͏Pierce. Fa͏st forward to ͏2024, and t͏hings have ta͏ken a ͏turn͏ for the ͏worse with͏ a disap͏pointin͏g͏ 4-1͏3 record, ͏leadi͏ng fans to cal͏l for hi͏s rem͏oval. The team didn’t show improvement this season as they were also plagued with injuries.

What’s surprising is that Pierce had a meeting with the media on Monday, where he stated that there wasn’t any reason to believe he would be out for the next season. He dismissed all speculations about the status of his job and also didn’t envision any changes to his coaching staff in 2025.

The Las Vegas Raiders: It’s a goodbye for Antonio Pierce

Jets, Saints, Bears, Jaguars, Pats, and now… Raiders. What’s one thing in common between these franchises? Not one is in the postseason. Now, Antonio Pierce is walking his last steps in the Sin City. But we all know him; what if he’s still thinking that a lot can still go his way?

The firing wasn’t a surprise. But the statement didn’t bother divulging why the decision was taken. The statement read: “The Las Vegas Raiders have relieved Antonio Pierce of his duties as head coach. We appreciate Antoni͏o’͏s leadership,͏ first as a͏n͏ int͏erim h͏ead coach and then this past season͏ as the head coach.

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“Antonio grew up a Raiders fan and his Silver and Black roots run deep. We are grateful for his ability to reignite what it means to be a Raider throughout the entire organization. We wish nothing but the best for Antonio and his family in the future.”

USA Today via Reuters

It was a disappointing campaign, which included a 10-game losing streak and their first winless season against the AFC West since 2006.

The Raiders are hitting the reset button again and now join Chicago, New England, the Jets, Jacksonville, and New Orleans in the offseason’s game of musical chairs for head coaches.

What do you think is going to happen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.