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Raiders' Antonio Pierce Hasn't Been Told 'Anything Different' About Job Status

Julia StumbaughJanuary 6, 2025

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 05: Head coach Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Candice Ward/Getty Images

Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said in Monday's end-of-season press conference that he doesn't have any updates regarding his job status.

"I haven't been told anything different," Pierce said when asked if he had any new clarity regarding his position (8:00 mark of the video below.)

When asked if he wanted more clarity, Pierce answered, "It's only coming from outside. It's not inside the building.

"So, to me, there's nothing to clean up until I hear from inside the building."

Las Vegas Raiders @Raiders

🔴📽️ Live: Antonio Pierce addresses the media from the Intermountain Health Performance Center. <a href="https://t.co/Sst2reqOJ9">https://t.co/Sst2reqOJ9</a>

When asked if he would be making any changes to his own staff, Pierce answered, "No. Not as of today."

The Raiders lost 34-20 to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday to end Pierce's first full season as head coach with a 4-13 record.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo recently used similar phrasing when saying in an appearance on NFL Network's The Insiders that Pierce's impending firing was certain only "outside" the Raiders organization.

"On the inside of the building, it's sounds like there's a lot of optimism that Antonio Pierce will continue as the head coach of the Raiders," Garafolo said on Sunday.

Garafolo added that Raiders owner Mark Davis "understands there's not a lot of talent and there's a lot of youth on the roster."

Pierce entered the season without a clear-cut QB1 and subsequently dealt with injuries to both O'Connell and Gardner Minshew. The Raiders went on to struggle through a 10-game losing streak in a season marred by quarterback uncertainty and offensive line struggles.

Those roster issues were at times exacerbated by Pierce's decision-making, like the timeout miscues that contributed to a Week 8 loss to the Chiefs in the middle of the losing streak.

When asked what he thought he could improve going forward, Pierce said during Monday's press conference that he needs "to go with his gut."

"I did that a lot, I was better at that last year," Pierce said (12:00 mark.) "This year I didn't do what I wanted to do as much as I wanted to do it."

When asked if there was a reason behind that reluctance to act, Pierce answered, "No. Just lessons learned."

Davis said throughout the season that Pierce is still learning how to succeed as a head coach. Possibly with the input of new minority owner Tom Brady, who will reportedly have a say in team operations going forward, Davis will now decide whether to give Pierce more time to learn or to start fresh ahead of the 2025 campaign.