The shine has come off of Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce some over the past few weeks.
Pierce’s Raiders rallied to a 5-5 mark off the back of two straight victories in mid-November, putting themselves right on the cusp of playoff contention. But three straight losses, including a recent home shutout courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings, have dulled that sparkle considerably.
Nonetheless, the Raiders got back on the winning track with Thursday night’s dominating victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The game was an emphatic statement for a coach in Pierce who’s looking to ascend from a fill-in into a long-term lead skipper in the NFL, whether in Vegas or otherwise.
That’s an outcome his wife, Jocelyn Pierce, will no doubt be rooting for right alongside him. Which brings us to the question posed in the headline…
Who Is Antonio Pierce’s Wife, Jocelyn Pierce?
Couples born through the game of football can often tie their relationship’s origins back to a specific team or academic institution. That’s not the case for Jocelyn and Antonio Pierce.
But they too can credit football for enabling their introduction to take place. Jocelyn met Antonio shortly after graduating from Central Connecticut State University with a degree in communications. She worked as a reporter for both Fox Sports and NFL Network after graduating.
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Not coincidentally, at that same time, Antonio was a standout linebacker for the New York Giants. But as his career wound down, he evidently considered it as good a time as any to get tied down. Or at least fate introduced the possibility to him and his better half.
The two met at an ESPN fantasy football event back in the summer of 2006. Jocelyn caught Pierce’s eye quickly, and their romance bloomed even quicker from there.
Pierce proposed in a grandiose fashion befitting one of the Big Apple’s then-headliners on the gridiron, as per InStyle:
“In February 2007, Pierce treated Maldonado to a scenic helicopter ride above Manhattan before dining à deux at Brooklyn’s The River Café. Famous for its chocolate Brooklyn Bridge cake, Pierce conspired with the restaurant’s manager to place the engagement ring atop the confection, which was covered with pink rose petals.”
Soon after their wedding, Antonio stepped away from the gridiron. Probably not coincidentally, Jocelyn stepped away from her own football-related career path soon thereafter.
MORE: Antonio Pierce Coaching Timeline
Nowadays, Jocelyn’s work is in realty. According to her website, she and the rest of her team rent and sell properties in Southern California as well as several major metropolises in Arizona, including Phoenix and Scottsdale. That’s none too surprising given where her husband plies his trade these days.
If his team’s statement victory over the Chargers on Thursday night is any indication, they should both enjoy some job security on the West Coast heading into next year.
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