Antonio Pierce's Top NFL Landing Spots After Firing as Raiders HC
After just one season at the helm, Antonio Pierce is out as the Las Vegas Raiders head coach.
The Raiders fired Pierce on Tuesday following Las Vegas' 4-13 season.
Pierce, who took over midseason for Josh McDaniels in 2023, showed potential when he led the Raiders to a 5-4 finish to the season last year, but Las Vegas lost its momentum in 2024 amid a handful of injuries to key players.
Now Pierce will look to land a new gig either as a head coach, coordinator or position coach. Here are a few potential landing spots for him after things didn't work out in Las Vegas.
Cincinnati Bengals, Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers Coach
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The Cincinnati Bengals could have been a playoff team and perhaps even a Super Bowl contender if their defense had been even slightly better.
The Bengals' poor defense led to the team firing defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and they're now hoping to find the person who can give them a playoff-ready defense.
Pierce could be the person for the job.
Though Pierce has not served as a defensive coordinator in the NFL, the Raiders had the ninth-best team defense in the league when he was a linebackers coach in 2023. This year, Pierce's defense held teams to 20 or fewer points six times.
If the Bengals don't hire Pierce as defensive coordinator, he could be a fit for their open linebackers coaching job.
Taking a position coach after being fired as a head coach could be a shot to Pierce's pride, but getting back to his roots as a linebackers coach might be what he needs at this point in his career.
Pierce, who is only 46, could help transform the Bengals' defense after they had one of the worst units in the NFL last season. Cincinnati has experience in its linebackers room too, which could make the process even easier.
If Pierce can prove himself after a shaky season in Las Vegas, he could be back on the sidelines as a head coach in no time.
It's also worth mentioning that Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is interviewing for the Bengals defensive coordinator job. If hired, perhaps his former colleague will be one of the first additions to his staff.
Indianapolis Colts, Defensive Coordinator
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The Indianapolis Colts' vacant defensive coordinator position might be a bit more approachable for Pierce, as the team likely isn't expecting to be a Super Bowl contender like the Bengals.
This gig would give Pierce the chance to regain some confidence and prove himself as a coach without the pressure of putting together a championship defense in his first year.
For the Colts, hiring Pierce would be a somewhat low-stakes risk. The team is still developing an offense led by Anthony Richardson while hoping to make some strides on defense as well. Bringing in a defensive coordinator with head-coaching experience could help the team take a step toward being a perennial playoff contender in 2025.
New York Jets, Defensive Coordinator
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The New York Jets promoted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to interim head coach when they fired Robert Saleh in October.
Now, they'll likely be on the lookout for a new defensive coordinator and Pierce could be among their top candidates. While the first order of business in New York will be hiring its next head coach, finding a defensive coordinator will be one of the next steps.
Like the job with the Colts, joining a dysfunctional Jets team would be a somewhat low-pressure gig for Pierce. New York likely isn't going to field a championship team next season and Pierce could ease back into a non-head-coaching job and prove himself as a coordinator.
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