On October 31, the Las Vegas Raiders abruptly fired general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels after the NFL trade deadline had passed.

New England long-time offensive coordinator Patriots McDaniels struggled with a 9-16 record during his tenure with the Raiders, now being let go before completing his second season, marking the second time he’s been fired mid-season in his NFL career. McDaniels was previously sacked by the Denver Broncos in 2010 following an 11-17 start.

Following McDaniels’ departure, the Raiders have now appointed former linebackers coach Antonio Pierce as their interim head coach.

But who is Pierce? Here’s what we know about the Raiders’ interim coach.

Born in Long Beach, Pierce, who recently turned 45, served as the Raiders linebackers coach for a year and a half. Despite going undrafted in 2001 from the University of Arizona, he managed to carve out a successful NFL career.

Pierce began his career with Washington, playing in all 16 games during his rookie season. His breakthrough came in 2004 when he notched 114 combined tackles, one sack, five passes defended, and two interceptions. He then joined the New York Giants, eventually becoming the captain of a Super Bowl-winning defense.

During his second season with New York, Pierce recorded a career-high 139 combined tackles, securing his first Pro Bowl nod. The following season saw him surpass the 100-tackle mark for the fourth consecutive year, culminating in the Giants’ upset victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, despite being double-digit underdogs.

After his retirement in 2010, Pierce transitioned into coaching, starting at Long Beach Poly high school in 2014. He later joined Arizona State, his former rival, serving in various capacities including associate head coach and defensive coordinator. In 2022, the Raiders brought Pierce aboard, marking his debut in the NFL coaching sphere.

Now, Pierce faces an immense opportunity to showcase his capabilities as a head coach. Notably, his coaching journey kicks off with a matchup against his former team, as the Raiders prepare to host the Giants this coming Sunday.