This wouldn’t occur to Kellen Moore, Ben Johnson or Mike McDonald. However for “some odd cause,” Antonio Pierce has to cope with it.
When the Las Vegas Raiders went into Arrowhead Stadium on Monday and upset Kansas Metropolis, 20-14, it wasn’t simply extra proof that the absences of Eric Bieniemy and Tyreek Hill have modified the way in which we take a look at the Chiefs, it additionally served as the newest instance of why the interim tag shouldn’t be connected to Pierce’s identify.
“Hell of a job by these guys, our workers, [defensive coordinator] Patrick Graham … it’s powerful,” Pierce stated as he obtained emotional after the sport.
“That is what we needed. We stated sufficient is sufficient. It was going to take all 60 minutes and it did. Hell of a job by our offense to complete it.”
On a day by which the NFL proved that it may snatch Christmas away from the NBA, Baltimore’s 33-19 street victory over San Francisco could also be what many are specializing in, as Lamar Jackson used the postgame press convention to name out the “disrespect” he and his workforce handled earlier than the sport. Nonetheless, the actual disrespect of the previous couple of weeks has come from Raiders proprietor Mark Davis as he’s but to announce Pierce as Las Vegas’ everlasting head coach.
Ever Since Pierce took over when Josh McDaniels was fired, the Raiders have gone 4-3, beat the Chargers and Chiefs, and at 7-8, aren’t utterly out of the playoff image. Monday’s win was additionally the Raiders first over Kansas Metropolis since 2020, and solely their second time beating Patrick Mahomes.
Nonetheless, the actual cause Davis’ inaction is so disrespectful to Pierce is as a result of it’s far too typically one other instance of how racism works within the NFL, particularly in relation to Black coaches.
Historical past — and homeowners — haven’t been kind to Black men who wear the interim tag. Between 2010 and final fall, there had been 14 occasions when a white coach served underneath the interim tag. In that very same timeframe, there was by no means a time by which a Black interim coach was changed by one other Black coach. Leslie Frazier (2010) and Romeo Crennel (2011) are a number of the few exceptions in league historical past by which a Black interim coach has been promoted.
It’s as if Mark Davis doesn’t need to be taught from Dave Tepper’s mistake.
“I had a chat with Steve (Wilks), no guarantees have been made, but when he does an unimaginable job, he must be in consideration,” Panthers owner Dave Tepper said last October when Wilks was introduced as Carolina’s interim coach. Tepper selected Frank Reich over conserving Wilks — a decision that went against what the players wanted. Tepper fired Reich (1-10) final month, the Panthers are atrocious, and Wilks has been vindicated as he serves because the 49ers defensive coordinator.
In 2021, the NFL made changes to the Rooney Rule, making it in order that groups must interview a minimum of two exterior minority candidates for head teaching positions and a minimum of one exterior minority candidate for a coordinator job. So whereas Davis can’t “technically” elevate the tag off Pierce, he nonetheless can. He’s confirmed that he does what he desires earlier than.
Verify this out from a 2018 report from ProFootballTalk:
“Raiders proprietor Mark Davis confirmed what has been extensively suspected: He obtained Jon Gruden to comply with develop into the subsequent head coach of the Raiders first, then fired Jack Del Rio, then carried out the required Rooney Rule interviews.
After his press convention yesterday, Davis spoke to a gaggle of Oakland reporters and acknowledged that he first felt like Gruden was critical about returning to the Raiders greater than two months in the past, after they met in Florida in late October or early November, in keeping with Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.”
With video games left in opposition to the Colts and Broncos — two groups who’re additionally nonetheless preventing to make the postseason — the Raiders may make issues attention-grabbing in the event that they win out. However even when they don’t, Antonio Pierce has already proven why he ought to be the subsequent full-time Black head coach within the NFL, as we’ve been compelled to look at — once more — the hurdles that Black coaches must cope with.
“I really feel just like the No. 1 factor I can say about him is he’s simply direct,” Raiders star defensive finish Maxx Crosby said about Pierce last month. “He’s blunt about every part, he’s going to provide the reality. Generally you don’t need to hear it, however you’d slightly have that than anyone sugarcoat sh*t. A man like AP, you’ve obtained to respect it, as a result of he’s been a participant, he’s been in our footwear, he’s been on the opposite aspect — he’s been teaching — and he’s seen all of it. A man like that, that may step in entrance of the room and demand respect, it makes all people else be just a little extra dialed in, have just a little little bit of nervousness — like, I should be on level, however on the similar time, you need to play for anyone like that as a result of you realize he’s obtained your again.”
