Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce now works as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports. Nonetheless, he couldn’t help but call out his former employer during CBS Sports’ pregame coverage ahead of the Week 1 action on September 7.
Pierce made a strong impression as the Raiders’ interim head coach in 2023, which earned him the full-time role. But his first full season at the helm was rough. Las Vegas stumbled to a 4-13 finish last season, and Pierce was let go after the year.
Whether it’s sour grapes or being brutally honest, Pierce called out the Silver and Black for their high turnover rate regarding head coaches.
“[The Raiders need] consistency in that building,” Pierce said on CBS Sports. “Pete Carroll, Antonio Pierce, Josh McDaniels, Rich [Bisaccia], [Jon] Gruden — I mean, how many different coaches have you gone through in the last five or six years?
“At some point, you’ve got to find a coach that you like. You’ve got to like the culture, the accountability, the responsibility, and then the commitment. Everything with the Raiders is about commitment to excellence. Well, how do you have excellence? You need consistency.”
Can Pete Carroll Change Culture as Raiders Head Coach
Despite the remarks about consistency, Pierce stated that Caroll has an opportunity to change the culture in Las Vegas. The 73-year-old has won everywhere he’s been, whether at USC or the Seattle Seahawks. Moreover, he’s built a winning culture, which is what the Raiders need.
“Pete Carroll—the biggest deal with him is he’s been here and done that before,” Pierce added. “He’s won everywhere he’s been: USC, the Seattle Seahawks. He brings in a culture. I think it’s no different than what I tried to do last year, right? You bring in that culture, you get guys excited, but you have to maintain it.”
Furthermore, Pierce noted that Carroll filled key weaknesses on the Raiders squad. He also said that the veteran head coach got a key player at a position he didn’t get last season during his time as head coach in Las Vegas.
“I think the key thing that happened for Pete Carroll, he got his quarterback,” Pierce said. “He got his quarterback. He got the guy that—look, man, I go to war for this guy. And that’s what Geno Smith said out the gate. Then he went and got a running back. So it’s interesting for me because that’s what I wanted last year, and I didn’t get it. My guy, Josh Jacobs, he plays for this team, the Green Bay Packers.
“But better yet, I think with him and [general manager John Spytek], they’ve done a great job of working together. It always starts with the head coach and GM being on the same page.”
Tom Brady is Excited About Pete Carroll Era
If Tom Brady hadn’t joined the Raiders’ ownership group, Antonio Pierce might still be the team’s head coach. But Brady was ready for a fresh start, which led to Las Vegas hiring Pete Carroll.
Pierce could still get another shot as a head coach down the road, but for now, the Raiders turned to a proven leader. Carroll is a Super Bowl champion, a future Hall of Famer, and someone Brady has spoken very highly of recently.
“There is definitely good players,” Brady told Pro Football Focus. “And they have proven through the offseason, there is a big commitment those players have made. And I think Pete has done a really tremendous job. Like a lot of coaches with veteran experience are able to do. They run a real program. Nothing really surprises them. Pete has had a tremendous record of success when he was at Seattle and USC. He is a tremendous coach and leader.
“There is a division where you have got Andy Reid, who is very much the same. Jim Harbaugh has done an incredible job. Sean Payton, we all know the kind of coach he is. I think the Raiders having a figurehead like that in that position gives them a great chance to complete.”
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