Raiders Rumors: Antonio Pierce, Champ Kelly 'Are Not Locks to' Be Full-Time HC, GM

Despite receiving full-throated endorsements from Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams, Antonio Pierce isn't guaranteed to be named head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pierce and general manager Champ Kelly "are not locks" to have their interim tags removed after coaches and staffers were told at a team meeting this week they would not be blocked from seeking jobs with other teams.

"Some took this to mean that Pierce and GM Champ Kelly are not locks to have their interim tags removed, according to sources," Schefter wrote. "If they were a lock, the Raiders would want Pierce and Kelly to retain many of their assistants, the same ones who now have permission to seek employment elsewhere."

Even if the Raiders are sold on Pierce as their head coach, Schefter noted they would need to conduct a complete search and go through the NFL's full process as required under the Rooney Rule before making a final decision.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Raiders owner Mark Davis "has always made it known that a team in Las Vegas needs a star coach," with Jim Harbaugh and Bill Belichick atop his wish list if either or both become available.

Davis previously courted Harbaugh after the 2014 season before he elected to take the head-coaching job at the University of Michigan.

Adams told reporters on Wednesday that "basically" the entire Raiders locker room would endorse Pierce being named head coach going forward:

"With good reason. He's come in and done a great job. He's continued to win us over. It's not just the comfortable thing. I think having AP here will be good for this organization. He kind of embodies what it means to be a Raider. That mentality, that swag and all the things he endorses is the things that I believe in. It's easy for a guy like me, especially having dealt with him a little bit this year now and gotten to know him and see his evolution in front of the team. All those things, all those different fields of being a head coach. Definitely rooting for him."

Crosby echoed Adams' sentiments on Thursday, while making it clear he is "sick" of change and losing that has happened to the Raiders throughout most of his career.

"There's only 32 [NFL] head coaches in the whole world," Crosby said of Pierce, "so you've got to find a leader of men. And when you've got one of them in the building currently, I don't know why you would let them go."

It's understandable why there's a lot of enthusiasm for Pierce. He took over what appeared to be a volatile situation with Josh McDaniels, whose firing seemed to be celebrated by some players on the team.

McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were fired on Nov. 1. Pierce and Kelly took over on an interim basis for the rest of the season. The Raiders have gone 4-4 since the change, with the defense allowing a respectable 16.3 points per game during this stretch.

Crosby's desire to have stability makes a lot of sense. Since he entered the league in 2019, the Raiders have had four different head coaches and three general managers, including interims.

If you go back to 2003, the Raiders have cycled through 13 different head coaches and six general managers.

It's probably not a coincidence the Raiders have just two playoff appearances in the last 21 seasons with that much turnover.