Las Vegas Raiders Announce Firing of Head Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Ziegler, Antonio Pierce to Serve as Interim Coach
Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis has made the decision to part ways with Head Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Ziegler, according to a statement released by the team. Davis expressed his gratitude for their hard work and wished them well in their future endeavors.
In the wake of McDaniels’ firing, the Raiders are reportedly set to appoint linebackers coach Antonio Pierce as their interim head coach. Sources familiar with the situation informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter of this development early Wednesday morning. Pierce, a former NFL linebacker from 2001 to 2009, joined the Raiders’ coaching staff prior to the start of the 2022 season.
During his tenure as head coach, McDaniels led the Raiders to a record of 9-16 in 25 games. This included a third-place finish in the AFC West Division standings during his only full season with the team. Currently, the Raiders hold a 3-5 record through their first eight games of the season.
Prior to his stint with the Raiders, McDaniels had previously served as the head coach of the Denver Broncos, accumulating a combined record of 11-17 during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Notably, McDaniels had also caused controversy by reneging on an agreement to become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, choosing instead to remain the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots for four more seasons.
Ziegler, who was named general manager of the Raiders on January 30, 2022, played a significant role in hiring McDaniels as the head coach. The two had a prior connection as college football teammates at John Carroll University, with Ziegler later serving as McDaniels’ boss during his time as an area scout and pro scout for the Broncos. McDaniels was hired as the Raiders’ head coach while he was in his second stint as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, just three years after winning his sixth Super Bowl with the franchise.
The Raiders experienced postseason success in 2021 under then-interim head coach Rich Bisaccia, finishing the regular season with a 10-7 record. During this period, the team posted a 7-5 record over their final 12 games following the resignation of former head coach Jon Gruden.
In summary, the Las Vegas Raiders have made the decision to part ways with Head Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Ziegler. Antonio Pierce will step in as the interim head coach while the team looks to move forward. McDaniels’ tenure with the Raiders produced a mixed record, with the team currently standing at 3-5. Ziegler’s hiring as general manager coincided with McDaniels’ appointment as head coach. The decision comes after the Raiders’ successful postseason run in 2021 under former interim head coach Rich Bisaccia.
