This wouldn’t occur to Kellen Moore, Ben Johnson or Mike McDonald. However for “some odd reason,” 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 have a look at the Chiefs, it additionally served as the most recent instance of why the interim tag shouldn’t be hooked up to Pierce’s identify.
“Hell of a job by those guys, our staff, [defensive coordinator] Patrick Graham … it’s tough,” Pierce mentioned as he received emotional after the sport.
“This is what we wanted. We said enough is enough. It was going to take all 60 minutes and it did. Hell of a job by our offense to finish it.”
On a day wherein the NFL proved that it might snatch Christmas away from the NBA, Baltimore’s 33-19 highway 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 group handled earlier than the sport. Nevertheless, the true disrespect of the previous few 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.
Nevertheless, the true cause Davis’ inaction is so disrespectful to Pierce is as a result of it’s far too usually one other instance of how racism works within the NFL, particularly in terms of 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 beneath the interim tag. In that very same timeframe, there was by no means a time wherein a Black interim coach was changed by one other Black coach. Leslie Frazier (2010) and Romeo Crennel (2011) are a few of the few exceptions in league historical past wherein a Black interim coach has been promoted.
It’s as if Mark Davis doesn’t need to study from Dave Tepper’s mistake.
“I had a talk with Steve (Wilks), no promises were made, but if he does an incredible job, he has to 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.
With video games left in opposition to the Colts and Broncos — two groups who’re additionally nonetheless combating to make the postseason — the Raiders might make issues fascinating in the event that they win out. However even when they don’t, Antonio Pierce has already proven why he must be the subsequent full-time Black head coach within the NFL, as we’ve been pressured to observe — once more — the hurdles that Black coaches need to cope with.
“I feel like the No. 1 thing I can say about him is he’s just direct,” Raiders star defensive finish Maxx Crosby said about Pierce last month. “He’s blunt about everything, he’s going to give you the truth. Sometimes you don’t want to hear it, but you’d rather have that than somebody sugarcoat sh*t. A guy like AP, you’ve got to respect it, because he’s been a player, he’s been in our shoes, he’s been on the other side — he’s been coaching — and he’s seen it all. A guy like that, that can step in front of the room and demand respect, it makes everybody else be a little more dialed in, have a little bit of nervousness — like, I need to be on point, but at the same time, you want to play for somebody like that because you know he’s got your back.”
