Maxx Crosby Pushes for Raiders to Hire Antonio Pierce as Full-Time Head Coach

The star pass rusher has thrown his support fully behind the interim coach to receive the franchise’s full-time gig next season.

Las Vegas Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby wants interim head coach Antonio Pierce to take over the full-time role and become the team’s permanent head coach.

“There’s only 32 [NFL] head coaches in the whole world,” Crosby said on Thursday. “So you’ve got to find a leader of men. And when you’ve got one of them in the building currently, I don’t know why you would let them go.”

This isn’t the first time that Crosby has thrown his support behind an interim coach. Crosby also wanted Rich Bisaccia, who took over as the interim for Jon Gruden when he was unceremoniously fired, to receive the full-time gig. Owner Mark Davis ended up hiring Josh McDaniels instead, which ended in disaster after a year and a half.

Crosby, a Raiders defensive standout, wants Pierce to be the team’s full-time coach :: Rick Scuteri/AP

Many of the players who were in the locker room the last time the Raiders faced this situation certainly hope things go in a different direction this time around with Pierce. While star wide receiver Davante Adams was not a member of the team the last time the franchise was tasked with a head coaching search, he said earlier this week that Pierce “has his vote” for coach in 2024. Adams also added that “that’s basically how the whole locker room feels.” 

Since taking over as the interim coach after Week 8, Pierce is 4–4. McDaniels led the Raiders to a 3–5 start, so despite the record not being significantly improved between the two coaches, it seems like the locker room has united behind Pierce and his leadership.

Only time will tell whether or not Davis sees it the same way.