Getty Josh McDaniels & Dave Ziegler.
Things have been going poorly for the Las Vegas Raiders since Josh McDaniels was hired as head coach and Dave Ziegler as general manager. So poorly that both Ziegler and McDaniels have been fired, the team announced late at night on October 31.
“After much thought about what the Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh and Dave. I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best,” owner Mark Davis said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, at 10 p.m. Pacific time.
In 2022, McDaniels and Ziegler took over a team that made the playoffs in 2021 and followed up that postseason appearance (under interim coach Rich Bisaccia and then-GM Mike Mayock) with a 9-16 record across less than two seasons. Davis appeared to remain patient as the Raiders started off 1-3 but then won consecutive games. However, back-to-back embarrassing losses against the Chicago Bears (2-6) and Detroit Lions (6-2) proved to be too much to overcome.
At 3-5, the Raiders aren’t completely out of the playoff race, and there’s enough talent on the roster to compete, but Vegas has scored more than 20 points in only one game this season and ranks 29th in the league in points per game (15.8) and is last in the league in rushing (70 yards per game).
Antonio Pierce Named Interim Head Coach
Linebackers coach Antonio Pierce will be the team’s interim head coach for the rest of the season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who posted his report eight minutes after the Raiders posted their announcement. McDaniels had no one on his coaching staff with NFL head coaching experience. Champ Kelly was named interim general manager.
Sources; Raiders are planning to name LB coach Antonio Pierce as their interim head coach.
Many will remember Pierce, 45, from his days as a linebacker for the New York Giants and Washington Commanders. He won a Super Bowl with the 2007 Giants. Pierce got his coaching career started at the high school level in 2014 at Long Beach Poly. He then served as an assistant coach at Arizona State University from 2018 to 2021.
Pierce is an interesting choice to replace McDaniels because he’s been coaching in the NFL only since last season. There are many other experienced coaches on the staff so it’s unclear why Pierce won the job.
However, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News posted on X a quote from a former teammate of Pierce’s that could illustrate why the Raiders thought Pierce was right for the role.
“I said he would be a head coach several years ago,” retired defensive end Osi Umenyiora said, according to Leonard. “He is a leader of men. It’s natural to him. Smart, instinctive. A guy you would follow anywhere. I don’t know what the scores will be, but they will play their hearts out for him, I can guarantee that.”
What the News Means for the Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders weren’t showing signs of improvement under McDaniels in his second year as a head coach. In fact, the offense was looking much worse with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. He leads the league in interceptions with 9 and is 27th in passing yardage.
And Ziegler had made a number of questionable decisions. He signed wide receiver Hunter Renfrow to a contract extension only to attempt to trade him a year later. He gave linebacker Chandler Jones big money, but he played poorly last season and was released without playing any games this year. He also used the No. 7 overall pick to draft defensive end Tyree Wilson, who hasn’t looked good through eight games.
The Raiders have too much talent to have this hard a time winning. Davis has seen the team have just two winning seasons since he took over ownership in 2011. He’ll now have to go back to the drawing board once again to try and solve this puzzle.