Antonio Pierce received a ringing endorsement to be named the Raiders permanent head coach on Wednesday.
The former Giants linebacker, who took over as Las Vegas’ head coach following the firing of Josh McDaniels, was given some high praise from star wide receiver Davante Adams.
Pierce, 45, has gone 4-4 since being named interim coach and helped change the culture around the Raiders.
“It’s obviously who I wanted and that’s my vote, and I’ve been vocal about that,” Adams, 31, told reporters Wednesday. “That’s basically how the whole locker room feels and With good reason. He’s come in and done a great job. He’s continued to win us over. It’s not just the comfortable thing. I think having AP here will be good for this organization. He kind of embodies what it means to be a Raider.
“That mentality, that swag and all the things he endorses is the things that I believe in. It’s easy for a guy like me, especially having dealt with him a little bit this year now and gotten to know him and see his evolution in front of the team. All those things, all those different fields of being a head coach. Definitely rooting for him.”
The comments may signal a change in tone for Adams, who at one point had been mentioned as a player that could potentially be moved, with the Jets having interest at this season’s trade deadline.
Regardless, Raiders owner Mark Davis will have a big decision to make over the offseason about who will take the head coaching job.
Late in December, a Sports Illustrated report said Davis had “some lingering regret” over another interim coach — Rich Bisaccia — he had passed on giving the job full time to back in 2021.
While addressing the position last month, Pierce told reporters that his “resume is on the grass.”
“And hopefully Mark Davis sees improvement and growth within our team. He sees the style and play that he wants from the Raiders. He sees a fan base that’s behind us. He sees a building that loves coming to work and loves being here,” Pierce said.
Pierce spent nine seasons in the league as a player and won Super Bowl XLII with the Giants.