Antonio Pierce On Future With Raiders: ‘I’m Under Contract’

The Las Vegas Raiders dropped to 2-12 on the season after losing their 10th consecutive game on Monday night, a 15-9 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons. But as has been the case most weeks, the Raiders fought hard under head coach Antonio Pierce, with a hail mary attempt to win the game being intercepted on the night’s final play.

Pierce’s status as head coach has been a significant topic of discussion lately as any team in the Raiders’ position, tied for the worst record in the NFL with a losing streak of this magnitude, would be right to evaluate the head coach. However, circumstances must also be considered, and no one could argue that Pierce had anything ideal go his way in his first season in charge.

Ultimately, the decision falls on owner Mark Davis, and after Monday’s game, Pierce said that he regularly talks with Davis and that their conversations have been positive, via Tashan Reed of The Athletic:

Pierce said his conversations with #Raiders owner Mark Davis remain “positive” when asked about his job status beyond this season.

— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) December 17, 2024

But regardless of the conversations Pierce has had with Davis, it doesn’t guarantee his job safety moving forward. And when he was asked, the Raiders coach had a simple answer, via Reed:

Pierce said “I’m under contract” when asked if he thinks he’ll be back as #Raiders head coach in 2025.

— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) December 17, 2024

Unfortunately for Pierce, his contract status does not protect him from potentially being let go at the end of this season. He wouldn’t be the first and won’t be the last, and if Davis feels that he isn’t the right man to lead this Raiders team, then that decision will be made.

So many things didn’t go Pierce’s way this year. It is known that Pierce wanted to move up and draft Jayden Daniels, but that didn’t happen, and the team’s quarterback situation was one of many things that doomed the Raiders. Injuries to key defensive players like Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins, not to mention the Davante Adams saga at the beginning of the year, all contributed to this awful season.

But through all that, the Raiders have continued to play hard under Pierce, which does mean something, as many coaches could have lost the locker room by now. Instead, the Raiders have come out of the bye even more competitive, being within one score going into the fourth quarter in each of the last five games. Whether that is enough to get Pierce another year remains to be seen, however.

Raiders owner Mark Davis reportedly didn’t back Antonio Pierce at NFL Owners Meetings

While Antonio Pierce has been having positive conversations with Raiders owner Mark Davis, things reportedly weren’t as positive during the recent NFL Owners Meetings.

An NFL insider recently reported that Davis had the chance to back Pierce when asked about his status during the meetings, but he did not do so. While this doesn’t necessarily guarantee anything, it certainly would seem to suggest that Davis is seriously considering going in a different direction with his head coach next year.