As everyone knows, the Las Vegas Raiders have parted ways with head coach Antonio Pierce following a difficult 4-13 season.
The decision, while not unexpected, has sent ripples through the NFL.
Adding to the intrigue of the situation is the revelation that new minority owner Tom Brady will have a very active role in finding Pierce’s replacement.
Pierce, who took over as interim head coach in the middle of the 2023 season, initially won over the locker room and became a very respected leader among the players.
However, the team’s performance plummeted this season, highlighted by a brutal ten-game losing streak from October to mid-December.
Given the disappointing season and a deep pool of head coaching candidates – some of whom have ties to Brady – the decision to dismiss Pierce was, in many ways, a logical choice for the organization.
For the players, though, the news of Pierce’s firing hit close to home.
Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ four-time Pro Bowl defensive end, expressed his thoughts on his podcast “The Rush With Maxx Crosby.”
While acknowledging the challenges of the season, Crosby emphasized his belief in Pierce and the harsh realities of the NFL.
“I believed in AP, this season didn’t go the way anybody expected it, to be honest. It’s unfortunate, this business is not easy, and from the coaching side and front office and just constant turnover, and especially being here, I’ve seen a lot, I’m going to be on a new head coach again,” Crosby said.
“This will be the fifth head coach we’ve had or whatever. First and foremost shout out to AP, big shout out to AP, I wish him the best, hope his family and everything. The life, the real human element to it, it’s not easy. He just signed a deal and now he’s got to completely change everything. I just wish them the best going forward.”
The coaching change has raised questions about Crosby’s future with the team.
While the 27-year-old star has reiterated his commitment to the Raiders over and over again, he also acknowledged the uncertainty that lies ahead.
“We’ll see, there’s going to be a lot of decisions to be made, not only on a personal level, I’ve got to make the decision that’s best for me, and I’m going to see. Obviously we don’t know what the coach is going to look like, there is going to be a lot of changes,” he said.
Despite the upheaval, Crosby made it clear that his desire to remain with the Raiders hasn’t wavered.
“I love being a Raider, I want to win here; I want to win with the Raiders, but we’ll see,” he added. “There’s going to be a lot of changes, and I’m going to take it one day at a time.”
As the Raiders search for a new head coach and general manager, questions about the long-term direction of the franchise linger.
Crosby is the face of the team and is one of the most beloved and respected players in the entire league.
We’ve heard rumblings for the past several months that the Detroit Lions are interested in trading for the Michigan native.
Despite his commitment to Vegas, you have to imagine that Crosby has spent a decent amount of time dreaming about playing for the Lions.
That’s no offense to the Raiders. But we all know that Crosby is dying to play on a Super Bowl contender – especially one with a culture as strong as Detroit’s.
What do you think the future holds for Crosby? … Are his days in Vegas numbered???
