“Bring him home!” That’s the quirky rallying cry from the New York Giants’ fans after the Las Vegas Raiders gave head coach Antonio Pierce the boot. With his interim run in Vegas now a wrap, Big Blue loyalists are buzzing about a reunion.
Pierce, a former Giants linebacker and Super Bowl champ, has that N.Y. swagger fans can’t forget. Social media lit with calls for him to join the coaching staff, or better yet, lead it.
Antonio Pierce’s Firing Sparks Giants Fans’ Call for a Comeback
NFL insider Mike Garafolo broke the news on X (formerly known as Twitter), reporting that the Raiders dismissed Pierce following a meeting with owner Mark Davis. It caps a short and rocky stint for the former Giants linebacker, who took over midseason in 2023 as an interim after Josh McDaniels’ firing, being retained full-time in 2024 before ultimately being let go.
Giants fans didn’t hold back.
“Fire Bowen right now and bring AP home!” one fan posted, urging the struggling franchise to consider Pierce over defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.
Fire Bowen right now and bring AP home! https://t.co/0KQFpa7YlY
— GIANTS YO! (@WDelVecchiYO) January 7, 2025
Another chimed in, calling the firing “a surprise,” and speculating on who the Raiders might hire next.
This was a surprise to me! Who will they hire?
— Jason Bilyeu (@jbilyeudesign) January 7, 2025
Pierce stepped into a tough gig. The Raiders finished the season 4-13, grappling with a QB carousel and a lack of consistency on both sides of the ball.
- Raiders’ PFN Offense+ Grade, 2024: 64.9 (D), 29th
- Raiders’ PFN Defense+ Grade, 2024: 71.2 (C-), 21st
Despite the challenges, some believe Pierce did well under the circumstances: “Pierce did fine with one of the worst situations out there. Someone tell Mark to just give the team to Tom and take a backseat,” a fan tweeted, pointing fingers at owner Mark Davis for deeper organizational flaws.
Giants fans’ interest in Pierce isn’t just nostalgia. He was a Super Bowl 42 hero (team-high 11 tackles in what is remembered as “the helmet catch game”) and a defensive leader during his playing days. Many think his gritty, player-first approach could inject life into a struggling Giants squad (3-14 in 2024).
But not everyone’s convinced. Critics of Pierce’s interim run called it a failed experiment.
“AP was a fan base hire to shut delusional fans up, the experiment failed. The team could’ve been competitive even without a QB. We need a coach that leads a team at all levels of the organization, not just the field,” one post argued, casting doubt on Pierce’s ability to build a cohesive program.
Pierce Out as Raiders’ HC After Tumultuous Season
Pierce’s short ride as the Raiders’ head coach has hit a dead end. After a brutal season, the team sent him packing on Tuesday afternoon. General manager Tom Telesco survived the axe, but Pierce, once the fiery leader rallying a struggling squad, couldn’t replicate last year’s spark.
Remember that Christmas miracle against the Kansas City Chiefs? It was Pierce’s big interim coach moment in 2023, potentially helping earn him the permanent gig. Raiders fans had hope, but hope isn’t enough when you lose 10 straight games. Quarterback chaos, trading away Davante Adams, and a roster stuck in rebuild mode didn’t help.
The Raiders went 2-2 to kick off the season, including a surprise W over the Baltimore Ravens, but then … the wheels fell off. By the time they snagged a couple of wins late in the season, their owner Davis had already made up his mind.
Now, the Raiders are back to their favorite hobby: coach hunting. Nine head coaches (including interims) in 15 seasons, and they’re shopping for No. 10. Selling this job to a top candidate? Tough, especially with their QB situation looking more like a puzzle than a solution. Let’s see how things shape up.