The Las Vegas Raiders made waves in the NFL landscape by firing head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday.
Pierce’s first full season at the helm saw him struggle to develop as a head coach, and the losses piled up faster than anticipated. Despite a press conference on Monday indicating Pierce was in no danger, owner Mark Davis ultimately changed course and decided to bring in a new leader.
Pierce’s promotion from interim head coach in 2023 to the full-time gig was largely due to the support of the players, with few being as vocal in their support than edge rusher Maxx Crosby. On Wednesday, Crosby made his thoughts on Pierce’s firing known on an episode of his podcast “The Rush.”
“I believed in AP,” Crosby said. “This season didn’t go the way anybody expected it, to be honest. This business is not easy. … First and foremost, shoutout to AP. I wish him the best. … The real human element to it, it’s not easy. He just signed a deal and now he’s gotta completely change everything. Just wish them the best going forward.”
It was clear that Crosby and Pierce had a strong connection on and off the field, but also that the NFL is a results-based business. Last season was a massive struggle by all accounts, and it appears as though Crosby recognizes that.
However, Crosby has made his stance on the team’s trajectory known. The next head coach of the Raiders will be his fifth since being drafted by the team in 2019, and he has no intention of seeing another change.
“Obviously, there are a lot of decisions to be made,” Crosby acknowledged. “On a personal level, I gotta make the decision that’s best for me. I’m gonna see. We don’t know what the coach or front office is going to look like. There’s gonna be a lot of changes.”
With a new coach comes a new staff, players and defensive schemes. Crosby has witnessed plenty of change during his time with the Raiders, so his frustrations and desire for stability are understandable.
Crosby will be paying close attention to the next head coaching hire and, if he does not approve of their choice, a trade is on the table. The star pass rusher has no more guaranteed money on his current deal, and the package that goes back the other way to Vegas would kickstart a rebuilding effort.
It would not be unprecedented for a new Raiders head coach to trade a star player. In his first year during his return to the team in 2018, Jon Gruden traded away edge rusher Khalil Mack and wide receiver Amari Cooper before the end of the season, securing three first-round picks between the two players.
Crosby’s current commitment is to the Raiders, and he has proven that in word and in deed many times over. However, while his loyalty is not to be questioned, the same cannot be said for his patience.
