Mark Davis mum on Antonio Pierce’s job security with Raiders
DALLAS — Raiders owner Mark Davis would not give a vote of confidence to Antonio Pierce when asked about the first-year coach Wednesday.
Davis spoke after the NFL owners meetings, where the league approved his 15 percent sale of the club to businessmen Michael Meldman and Egon Durban. He said he would wait until after the season to determine the direction of the Raiders, who have lost nine straight and are 2-11. They currently hold the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
“I don’t even want to talk about that right now,” Davis said of Pierce’s job security. “Like I said, we’re still playing through the season.”
Davis expressed frustration with how the season has gone. He did not blame or exonerate Pierce for the disappointing results.
“Obviously, we’re not happy,” Davis said. “But you have to go through the season, and then you evaluate. And right now, I’m not in that position to evaluate anything.”
Davis did not take himself off the hook, saying he is responsible for hiring the people he entrusts to make football decisions. But he said he has not seen the team evolve as the season has unfolded.
“You want to see progress and things of that nature,” Davis said.
Good marks for Telesco
Davis praised first-year general manager Tom Telesco, specifically his work in the NFL draft. The Raiders have gotten a huge lift from rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who has 87 catches for 933 yards and four touchdowns, and might have found long-term answers on the offensive line in center Jackson Powers-Johnson and right tackle DJ Glaze.
“He knows talent pretty damn well,” Davis said. “He had a good draft for us.”
Pierce and Telesco were hired at the same time, but Davis said they were not a package deal and will be judged independently.
“They didn’t come in as a team, so they are individuals,” he said.
Brady will play major role
When Davis begins the evaluation process, expect Tom Brady to play a significant role. Brady recently purchased a 5 percent ownership stake in the Raiders, and while his job as the lead analyst on Fox’s NFL games will limit his day-to-day capacity with the club, Davis expects to lean heavily on him for football decisions.
“I want Tom to have a huge voice,” Davis said. “No question about it.”
Or, as someone with knowledge of the situation put it: “Once Mark is ready and Tom is ready, there will be tons of changes that occur at every level of the organization.”
With the Raiders at yet another crossroads — decisions must be made on the futures of Pierce and Telesco and at quarterback — Brady could help shape the future of the franchise as early as the offseason.
“He’s competitive,” Davis said. “He’s very thorough. He’s got a great ability to communicate on a level that people can understand. I’m excited and grateful that he’s a part of the Raiders’ organization.”
Davis envisions Brady being in charge of football operations, working above the general manager and coach.
“It’s part of building the infrastructure of the organization, which is something we didn’t have — a football person on that side of it that’s not a coach or as a manager,” Davis said. “Somebody that can oversee the whole picture. And I believe Tom, in time, will be the person that can do that.”
Brady’s job at Fox does not preclude him from communicating with Davis and sharing his thoughts.
“Obviously, I talk to him all the time, and his input is greatly valued and will always be valued,” Davis said.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
