Raiders Rumors: Giants See Antonio Pierce as Top DC Target to Replace Wink Martindale

The New York Giants would consider Antonio Pierce a "top target" for their defensive coordinator vacancy if the Las Vegas Raiders don't name him their permanent head coach, according to Hondo Carpenter of Raiders Today.

Wink Martindale reportedly resigned as the Giants defensive coordinator Monday, a move that was telegraphed more than a month ago.

Hiring Pierce to lead the defense would make a lot of sense. The 45-year-old went 5-4 as the Raiders' interim coach, and he saw a unit that went from 29th to eighth in defensive efficiency, per FTN Fantasy. He also played five years with the Giants, a run that included their 2007 championship, so he's familiar with the organization.

Pierce's availability might be an obvious hurdle, though.

There's a lot of support from inside the Raiders locker room behind making him the head coach beyond this season. In December, The MMQB's Albert Breer reported team owner Mark Davis "regretted" the decision not to keep Rich Bisaccia as the head coach under similar circumstances in 2021.

CBS Sports' Josina Anderson cited a Raiders source on Jan. 3 who said Davis "hasn't tipped his hand yet" regarding Pierce, and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has been linked with the vacancy.

Nothing is guaranteed when it comes to Pierce's employment status. Perhaps the Giants will get their shot in a few weeks.