The dream is dead for NY Giants fans. In recent weeks, optimism had arrived that perhaps team legend Antonio Pierce, a Super Bowl winner with Big Blue, would make his return to East Rutherford to replace Wink Martindale as defensive coordinator.
However, that's not going to happen. Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels as interim head coach, but the Las Vegas Raiders have decided he's the right man for the job moving forward. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the interim tag is being removed and Pierce is locked in as the head coach starting in 2024. This was a gig that AP certainly deserved.
Raiders are working to finalize a deal to hire Antonio Pierce as their head coach, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 19, 2024
Raiders made Pierce their interim HC on Halloween night and now are closing in on making it a full-time job. Players who campaigned for Pierce soon are expected to be happy. pic.twitter.com/OAJTur9ZJ0
Antonio Pierce had the support of Raiders players to be named new head coach
Once the Raiders decided to let go of McDaniels, Pierce stepped in as head coach for the final nine games of the campaign. During that stretch, the Raiders went 5-4 and the players seemed much happier to be working under him instead of McDaniels.
Pierce completely changed the culture in the locker room, which was needed in Sin City. It got to the point that there was speculation that superstar pass-rusher Maxx Crosby could end up asking for a trade if the team let Pierce walk. People in Vegas don't have to worry about that.
Malik Nabers to the NY Giants at No. 6 overall could come this spring
As for the Giants, they have to focus on finding a new defensive coordinator, but Joe Schoen is also hard at work with his NFL Draft prep. On Friday, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah dropped a new mock draft and he has the Giants going with LSU receiver Malik Nabers at No. 6 overall in the first round.
"This continues the Giants’ quest from last offseason to add team speed. Nabers is the most explosive wideout in the draft. "Daniel Jeremiah
Rome Odunze is another WR that has been linked to the Giants quite a bit, but Jeremiah has him off the board at No. 5 to the Chargers. If the Giants don't bring in a replacement for Daniel Jones this offseason, then they need to surround him with playmakers for the aerial attack. Bringing in Nabers would certainly help out in that department.