Antonio Pierce operating as Raiders’ coach until he hears otherwise
Jan 6, 2025, 1:01 PM | Updated: 1:08 pm
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders players credited head coach Antonio Pierce for keeping them motivated despite a 10-game losing streak and 4-13 season, and the team unity is part of the reason he expects to be back as head coach in 2025.
“I’m really proud of how we finished the season,” Pierce said on Monday at his usual day-after-game press conference.
Pierce said he is continuing to fulfill his role as head coach and hasn’t heard “anything different,” leading to the expectation that he willl be in the role in 2025.
Asked the #Raiders locker room about Antonio Pierce and his future with the organization.
Only high praise for their head coach. #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/AX5OAtD8dO
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) January 6, 2025
Tight end Brock Bowers and quarterback Aidan O’Connell were among the players who said Sunday they wanted Pierce to return.
“Just being myself every day. I never change, win, lose or draw,” Pierce said. “It was challenging. When you lose 10 straight, how do you keep going in front of the team to motivate them? … I thought you saw some things, you could see the players improving.”
“We’ve got to get better players, got to coach better. You’ve got to do a lot of different things better when you win four games.”
Pierce said he doesn’t want to make major changes to the coaching staff and expects to have a conversation with general manager Tom Telesco and owner Mark Davis.
Pierce said he hopes to have a bigger impact in draft preparation and is familiar with the quarterback prospects in the 2025 class.
–Field Level Media
More on Antonio Pierce & the Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers caught four passes in the Raiders’ regular-season finale on Sunday, nudging him past New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers for the NFL’s single-season rookie reception record.
Nabers briefly owned the record after making five grabs in the Giants’ 20-13 loss at Philadelphia early Sunday afternoon to leave him with 109 on the season.
A few hours later, Bowers shook off a slow start and hauled in all four of his receptions during the second half of the Raiders’ 34-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. His 110th catch came on a 21-yard connection with Aidan O’Connell in the third quarter.
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