The New York Giants may want to bring a prodigal son home.
The Giants are going to interview former Pro Bowl and Super Bowl champion linebacker Antonio Pierce for their head-coaching vacancy, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Pierce spent five seasons as the Giants middle linebacker between 2005-09, helping them make the playoffs in four of his five seasons. Pierce had 25 tackles and one pass defended in New York’s memorable run to Super Bowl XLII, with 11 tackles in the Giants’ 17-14 win over the New England Patriots that ended their perfect season.
The Giants will add Pierce’s name to the list of potential coaching candidates. They have also interviewed or intend to speak with Kevin Stefanski, Mike McCarthy, John Harbaugh, Raheem Morris and Vance Joseph, though that list could continue to grow.
Antonio Pierce Was The Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach
Aside from being an all-time Giants great, Pierce checks the box as a former NFL head coach. Giants fans may remember that Pierce earned his first NFL victory at New York’s expense, when as the Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach he guided Las Vegas to a 30-6 win at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 5, 2023.
Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels, whom the Raiders fired after they started the season 3-5. Pierce went 5-4 in his final nine games, including three wins in Las Vegas’ final four games, to earn the full-time coaching spot. But he was fired after one full season as head coach, where he went 4-13 in 2024.
Still, even though the Giants have been down bad for the better part of a decade, they are far more stable than the Raiders, who have fired four coaches in five years and are about to hire their third head coach in as many offseasons.
So the fact Pierce coached the Raiders near the playoffs in 2023 — they beat the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and ended the year with a plus-1 point differential — proves he is a capable motivator.
Antonio Pierce Could Be A Giants Assistant Coach Too
It’s no secret the Giants’ head-coaching role is the most enticing to prospective candidates, and there are some high-end coaches available in Harbaugh, Stefanski, McCarthy, plus those who may end up being available after Wild Card Weekend.
So the Giants ending their offseason with Pierce as their head coach would feel like a letdown for fans, who are starving for success after 11 sub-.500 seasons in the past 13 years.
But there could be a role for Pierce on the Giants staff, especially if Harbaugh ends up getting the role, since he is more of a CEO type and not an Xs and Os tactician.
The eventual head coach will want to hire his own staff, and Pierce has never even been an NFL coordinator — the Raiders promoted him to linebackers coach to interim coach, in a truly Raiders-like move.
But adding Pierce to the coaching staff as the defensive coordinator or linebackers coach could also win favor with Giants fans. Those of a certain age fondly remember his contribution during the team’s most recent heyday and would feel extra excited if he helped the team’s talented defense reach its full potential.
Giants To Interview Former Franchise Great For Vacant Head Coaching Spot