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Josh McDaniels scolded Raiders interim HC Antonio Pierce for referencing 2007 Patriots loss before firing

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Nick Geddes | Last updated 11/6/23

Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels reportedly took issue with a comment made by then linebackers coach Antonio Pierce during a recent team meeting.

According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, Pierce, now interim head coach after the Raiders fired McDaniels earlier this week, mentioned the 2007 New York Giants, whom he played for, as an example of establishing a winning culture. Pierce said that the Giants believed they could win any game, as they did in the Super Bowl that season, stopping the New England Patriots from becoming the second team in NFL history to go undefeated wire-to-wire.

The players appreciated Pierce’s comments. McDaniels, Patriots offensive coordinator for 14 seasons, did not.

Inside scoopage of what went on behind the scenes that led the @raiders to fire head coach John McDaniels then.move onto Antonio Pierce as their new coach. #raiders @nflonfox pic.twitter.com/aLcymL3Gcy
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) November 5, 2023

“Josh McDaniels then goes over to him and says, ‘Don’t ever talk about the Patriots like that,’” Glazer said. “And then you really saw how divided the building got. That got up to Mark Davis, and I think Davis looked at it and [went], ‘OK, I’m gonna choose the guy who believes we can win every single week.’”

Raiders go in different direction, fire Josh McDaniels, Dave Ziegler

The Raiders hired McDaniels as head coach ahead of the 2022 season, in which he led the team to a 6-11 record. He finishes his Raiders head coaching tenure 9-16 in 25 games. General manager Dave Ziegler, also relieved of his duties, came in alongside McDaniels — both coming from the Patriots.

“After much thought about what the Raiders need to move forward, I have decided to part ways with Josh and Dave. I want to thank them both for their hard work and wish them and their families nothing but the best,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement.

McDaniels is the first NFL head coach to be ousted this season, as is the case for Ziegler among general managers.

It is not the first time McDaniels has promptly found himself unemployed. He was previously the head coach of the Denver Broncos for one-plus season, in 2009 and ’10. He went 8-8 in 2009 before being fired after 12 games and a 3-9 record in 2010.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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