This wouldn’t occur to Kellen Moore, Ben Johnson or Mike McDonald. However for “some odd cause,” Antonio Pierce has to cope with it.
When the Las Vegas Raiders went into Arrowhead Stadium on Monday and upset Kansas Metropolis, 20-14, it wasn’t simply extra proof that the absences of Eric Bieniemy and Tyreek Hill have modified the best way we have a look at the Chiefs, it additionally served as the most recent instance of why the interim tag shouldn’t be hooked up to Pierce’s title.
“Hell of a job by these guys, our employees, [defensive coordinator] Patrick Graham … it’s robust,” Pierce mentioned as he acquired emotional after the sport.
“That is what we needed. We mentioned sufficient is sufficient. It was going to take all 60 minutes and it did. Hell of a job by our offense to complete it.”
On a day through which the NFL proved that it might snatch Christmas away from the NBA, Baltimore’s 33-19 street victory over San Francisco could also be what many are specializing in, as Lamar Jackson used the postgame press convention to name out the “disrespect” he and his group handled earlier than the sport. Nonetheless, the actual disrespect of the previous few weeks has come from Raiders proprietor Mark Davis as he’s but to announce Pierce as Las Vegas’ everlasting head coach.
Ever Since Pierce took over when Josh McDaniels was fired, the Raiders have gone 4-3, beat the Chargers and Chiefs, and at 7-8, aren’t fully out of the playoff image. Monday’s win was additionally the Raiders first over Kansas Metropolis since 2020, and solely their second time beating Patrick Mahomes.
Nonetheless, the actual cause Davis’ inaction is so disrespectful to Pierce is as a result of it’s far too typically one other instance of how racism works within the NFL, particularly on the subject of Black coaches.
Historical past — and house owners — haven’t been type to Black males who put on the interim tag. Between 2010 and final fall, there had been 14 instances when a white coach served underneath the interim tag. In that very same time-frame, there was by no means a time through which a Black interim coach was changed by one other Black coach. Leslie Frazier (2010) and Romeo Crennel (2011) are a few of the few exceptions in league historical past through which a Black interim coach has been promoted.
It’s as if Mark Davis doesn’t need to be taught from Dave Tepper’s mistake.
“I had a chat with Steve (Wilks), no guarantees had been made, but when he does an unimaginable job, he needs to be in consideration,” Panthers proprietor Dave Tepper mentioned final October when Wilks was introduced as Carolina’s interim coach. Tepper selected Frank Reich over protecting Wilks — a choice that went towards what the gamers needed. Tepper fired Reich (1-10) final month, the Panthers are atrocious, and Wilks has been vindicated as he serves because the 49ers defensive coordinator.
With video games left towards the Colts and Broncos — two groups who’re additionally nonetheless preventing to make the postseason — the Raiders might make issues attention-grabbing in the event that they win out. However even when they don’t, Antonio Pierce has already proven why he ought to be the following full-time Black head coach within the NFL, as we’ve been pressured to look at — once more — the hurdles that Black coaches must cope with.
“I really feel just like the No. 1 factor I can say about him is he’s simply direct,” Raiders star defensive finish Maxx Crosby mentioned about Pierce final month. “He’s blunt about all the pieces, he’s going to provide the fact. Typically you don’t need to hear it, however you’d reasonably have that than any individual sugarcoat sh*t. A man like AP, you’ve acquired to respect it, as a result of he’s been a participant, he’s been in our footwear, he’s been on the opposite facet — he’s been teaching — and he’s seen all of it. A man like that, that may step in entrance of the room and demand respect, it makes everyone else be slightly extra dialed in, have slightly little bit of nervousness — like, I have to be on level, however on the identical time, you need to play for any individual like that as a result of he’s acquired your again.”