Raiders Rumors: Jim Harbaugh, Antonio Pierce Considered 'Leading Candidates' for HC

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and interim Raiders coach Antonio Pierce are reportedly the "leading candidates" to permanently fill Las Vegas' head-coaching vacancy.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Ravens "haven't launched their coaching search in earnest yet" but Harbaugh and Pierce are expected to receive serious consideration.

Pierce, who took over for Josh McDaniels midway through the 2023 season, has the overwhelming support of the locker room after leading the Raiders to a 5-4 record. Several players have gone public in expressing their support of Pierce landing the full-time job.

"He's obviously who I want, that's my vote, and I've been vocal about that," wide receiver Davante Adams said. "That's basically how the whole locker room feels, and with good reason. I mean, he's come in and done a great job, and he's continued to win us over. It's not just the comfortable thing.

"Having AP [Antonio Pierce] here will be a big deal for this organization. He kind of embodies what it means to be a Raider, and that mentality, that swag, and all the things that he endorses are the things that I believe in."

Pierce, who played nine seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, was a defensive coordinator at Arizona State before joining Josh McDaniels' staff as the Raiders linebackers coach in 2022. His only head-coaching experience was with Long Beach Poly High School in California before landing the interim job.

Harbaugh, meanwhile, is coming off leading Michigan to a national championship win over Washington and would likely have his pick of NFL vacancies. The 60-year-old has been linked to the Minnesota Vikings' and Denver Broncos' coaching jobs in recent offseasons but has remained at Michigan.

However, coming off a national championship that featured him being suspended on two different occasions, it's possible Harbaugh will explore the NFL once again. Harbaugh previously went 44-19-1 in four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before leaving in 2014 amid a power struggle with management.

It's likely Harbaugh would want final say over all roster decisions to make the leap to the NFL given his complete job security at Michigan.