Raiders star might seek trade if Antonio Pierce isn’t named coach
Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby could seek a trade if the team doesn’t hire Antonio Pierce as its coach, an NFL source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Saturday.
On his podcast Saturday, Crosby didn’t deny reports that he could potentially ask for a trade if Pierce does not get hired.
“I’m going to have to consider everything,” he said. “Honestly, nothing is off the table. Clearly I made it loud and clear that I want to be a Raider for life. I want to win here. I want to retire here. But if you go and start from scratch again, I have to consider everything. That’s something I’ve talked to all my people about.
“At some point, you have to do what’s right for the fans, for the team, for the future. You have to put everything in consideration. So for me, I’m the least selfish person when it comes to that. I’ll let it get to the last extent before I pull out of something. I don’t quit anything I do. So I want to be a Raider for sure. But if we go in a different direction, then there’s nothing that’s off the table.”
Pierce was elevated from linebackers coach to interim head coach after the Raiders fired Josh McDaniels on Oct. 31. The team went 5-4 under Pierce, and he overwhelmingly won the support of his players.
Leading the charge were the Raiders’ two best players — Crosby and wide receiver Davante Adams.
Word on Crosby’s position comes on the same day Pierce interviewed for the head coaching job with the Tennessee Titans, who fired longtime coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday.
While the Raiders have been more focused on their general manager search over their head coach opening at the moment, there is growing support and demand for them to make Pierce the permanent coach.
Crosby voiced his support again Friday on his X account, posting “#HireAP”.
“It’s pretty simple. I’ve made it very public, honest and clear. For me, it’s Antonio Pierce without a doubt,” Crosby said on his podcast.
Crosby pointed out the Raiders already passed on keeping a successful interim coach who was beloved in the locker room when the organization did not give Rich Bisaccia the full-time job after a playoff appearance in 2021.
“We ended up deciding to go in a different direction and starting from ground zero,” he said. “That didn’t work. Now we’re back in the same situation.
“It would be absolutely ridiculous and insane if we didn’t bring back AP and give him an opportunity.”
Crosby said he’s not alone in his opinion.
“I know how the guys feel,” he said. “I know everybody wants him back. I know the legends like (Charles Woodson) and those guys want him back. All the fans, everybody wants him back. I feel like he’s done more than enough to prove he’s worthy of getting that opportunity.”
Crosby laid out the case for Pierce, pointing out how well the team played down the stretch and how quickly the culture changed in the locker room.
Most importantly, Crosby said the team needs to find some consistency and believes Pierce is the way to ensure that happens.
“We can’t start from ground zero again,” he said. “I mean, what are we doing? If we were to go with a new coach, it would be my fifth head coach in five years. I’m sick of it. I know everybody else is sick of it. I’ve been through it all, and I’m sick of losing. All I want to do is win. I’m hellbent on it. I’m going to keep sharing my opinion, and it doesn’t bother me because I know AP is the right man for the job.”
Crosby said he has had many conversations with owner Mark Davis and has been consistent in his message that both Pierce and general manager Champ Kelly should have the interim tags removed from their titles.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X. Review-Journal reporter Adam Hill contributed to this story.