Charles Woodson gives Antonio Pierce his stamp of approval as Raiders coach

If the Las Vegas Raiders actually make the playoffs, then their coaching search for next year may not need to be extensive.

Since taking over for Josh McDaniels, interim coach Antonio Pierce has amassed a 4-3 record, with two games left and the postseason a real possibility.

Raiders legend and Hall of Famer Charles Woodson sees these accomplishments as a reason why Mark Davis should remove the interim tag for Pierce.

“He also knows what being a Raider looks like. I get no more joy than watching him after the games when he hits that Raiders chant,” Charles Woodson said while appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio after the Raiders beat the Chiefs on Christmas. “Mark [Davis] has decisions to make going forward… He can go out and he can look far and wide, but he’s not going to find another Raider that understands what this thing should look like more so than Antonio Pierce. So I would give him my blessing. You know, from what I’ve seen so far, I think the players have given him his blessing as well, the way they performed. And I would be very happy with Antonio Pierce being the guy going forward.”

READ MORE FROM SACTOWN SPORTS:

• Davante Adams isn’t focused on the Raiders’ playoff scenarios
• Antonio Pierce on coaching the Raiders: ‘Hopefully we’re together for more years to come’

HOF Defensive Back @CharlesWoodson gives his endorsement for @Raiders HC Antonio Pierce going forward in Las Vegas…#Raiders | #RaiderNation | @RichGannon12 pic.twitter.com/wQ4auOjWKX

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) December 28, 2023

The former Raider wasn’t the only one to praise Pierce after the team’s Christmas Day win. Wide receiver Davante Adams said earlier this week he’s rooting “for the guy” to lose the interim tag.

“I don’t know if the team’s like, ‘Oh, let’s go in and ball out for AP to get the job.’ That’s not really the thought process of the guys, but it’s more about playing as hard as you can for the man himself and then those things kind of work themselves out. So, it definitely gave him a better shot,” Adams said. “I mean, I love the guy, love what he’s brought, his mentality. His passion for the game is undeniable, you can see it every single day. His evolution as far as speaking to the team and just the ‘head coach-ness’ of the deal is something that you kind of have to learn and come into your own, same as being a captain on the team or a leader on a football team.”

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