Even though the Las Vegas Raiders improved to 3-12 on the season via a 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Sunday, rumblings suggest that Raiders owner Mark Davis will part ways with head coach Antonio Pierce following the campaign.
During the latest "Scoop City" podcast, The Athletic's Dianna Russini explained how Raiders minority owner Tom Brady will impact Pierce's future.
"...They're going to have to make a decision about their head coach with Antonio Pierce," Russini said about the Raiders, Bleacher Report's Julia Stumbaugh shared. "I've talked to people around the league who believe that this is probably going to be it for AP. …But I think Tom Brady is going to have a big hand in helping Mark Davis navigate the next steps here."
It was reported back in October that Brady would eventually help in "recruiting top talent to the (Raiders) organization on every level." Around that same time, some linked Las Vegas with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick largely because of his relationship with Brady. However, Belichick didn't wait for the NFL's next hiring cycle to get underway officially and instead became the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
More recently, former Tennesee Titans head coach and Patriots Hall of Famer Mike Vrabel has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Pierce. Vrabel and Brady "were very close" as teammates in New England and remain tight to this day. Meanwhile, Vrabel is a one-time Associated Press Coach of the Year Award winner expected to be targeted by multiple teams next month.
As for Pierce, he has left much to be desired with his in-game performances during his first season as the Raiders' full-time head coach. On paper, Vrabel would be an upgrade for a rebuilding Las Vegas team that will spend another offseason searching for a long-term answer at quarterback.
While Pierce could win Brady over by guiding the Raiders to a pair of victories to finish the season, the seven-time Super Bowl champion sounds ready to take the team in a different direction.
