Source: Raiders finalizing a deal to name Pierce head coach
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to hire Antonio Pierce to be their next head coach and the two sides are finalizing the deal, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't made the announcement.
Pierce, 45, took over as Las Vegas' interim coach on Halloween night after Josh McDaniels was fired. The Raiders went 5-4 under his watch — the team went 8-9 overall — and the players were in his corner from the beginning.
“Why wouldn't we keep going the direction we're going?” Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby said after a 27-14 victory over Denver on Jan. 7. “The fact we've come together and done something special in such a short time is hard to do. We've got a guy who's played at the highest level, won a Super Bowl, he's been a captain, and now he's a great coach and he's a leader.”
Pierce also won over much of the fan base. The crowd chanted “AP!” as the game against the Broncos was winding down.
Pierce will be charged with restoring a championship pedigree to a once-iconic franchise that has missed the playoffs in 19 of the past 21 seasons.
NFL hiring rules prohibited owner Mark Davis from hiring Pierce outright. Davis had to interview at least two external minority and/or female candidates in person to satisfy the Rooney rule. He did that.
The Raiders interviewed former Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. ESPN reported the club also interviewed former New Orleans Saints co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard.
Falcons eye Belichick, talk to Lions’ Glenn
With Bill Belichick set for a second interview, the Atlanta Falcons have talked with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn about their vacant head coaching job.
The Falcons announced Friday they had completed a virtual interview with Glenn, who has led the Lions' defense for the past three seasons.
Glenn became the ninth candidate to interview with the Falcons, but all eyes were on Belichick amid reports that he was the team's top choice and had flown into Atlanta on one of owner Arthur Blank's private jets for a second interview.
The Falcons confirmed they were meeting further with Belichick, but said no additional details would be provided until the follow-up interview was completed.
With a career record of 333178, including the playoffs, Belichick wants to keep coaching as he approaches the late Don Shula's record of 347 victories.
Titans interview Eagles’ Johnson
The Tennessee Titans made Philadelphia offensive coordinator Brian Johnson their eighth coaching candidate interviewed virtually Friday in their search for a new coach.
The Titans announced they had concluded their interview with Johnson, who also interviewed with Atlanta and reportedly Carolina for their head coach openings. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk promised to cast a wide net in replacing coach Mike Vrabel, who was fired Jan. 9.
Johnson coached quarterbacks for Philadelphia in 2021 and 2022 before taking over as offensive coordinator in 2023. He started coaching in 2010 at Utah, where he played quarterback. He also coached at Mississippi State and Florida.
The Titans interviewed Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn on Wednesday night and a pair of offensive coordinators Thursday in Thomas Brown from Carolina and Houston's Bobby Slowik on Thursday.