Titans meet with Raiders’ Pierce over head coach job

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have interviewed Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce for their vacant head coaching job.

The Titans announced Saturday they completed their third interview to find a replacement for Mike Vrabel, who was dismissed Tuesday after consecutive losing seasons and just six wins in the last 24 games.

Pierce was named interim head coach for the Raiders after Josh McDaniels was fired on Oct. 31 following a 3-5 start to his second season with the team. Pierce and the Raiders went 5-4 after the change, and he remains a leading candidate to get the full-time job.

On Friday, the Titans starting the coaching search, interviewing Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.

Pierce, who joined the Raiders as linebackers coach in 2022, started his coaching career as a high school head coach at Long Beach Poly in California before joining Arizona State as linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator in 2018. He worked from 2018 to 2021 at Arizona State, where he eventually rose to Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, before joining the Raiders.

Pierce played linebacker in the NFL with Washington and the New York Giants, winning a Super Bowl with New York in February 2008.

EAGLES’ A.J. BROWN OUT VS. BUCS WITH KNEE INJURY

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will miss Monday night’s playoff game against Tampa Bay with a knee injury.

Brown was hurt in the first quarter of last week’s loss to the New York Giants after a short reception. Cornerback Nick McCloud punched the ball out of Brown’s hands for a fumble, and the two went to the turf at MetLife Stadium. Brown lay on the field for a couple of minutes, walked gingerly to the medical tent favoring his right knee and then went to the Eagles’ locker room.

“It was going to be a stretch for A.J. to play,” coach Nick Sirianni said Saturday. “He did everything he possibly could to get himself ready. He fought like crazy to try and do everything he could do.”

Brown finished the regular season with 106 receptions for 1,456 yards and seven touchdowns. He had nine catches for 131 yards in the Eagles’ September win over the Buccaneers.

Brown was not ruled out for the next round, should the Eagles advance.