Raiders fire coach Antonio Pierce after he goes 4-13 in lone full season

Sport

Raiders fire coach Antonio Pierce after he goes 4-13 in lone full season

2025-01-08 07:45 Last Updated At：07:51

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Antonio Pierce stood behind a lectern and took questions during an end-of-season news conference, even though his future as the Las Vegas Raiders' coach remained very much in question.

The organization could have informed Pierce, as it did Tuesday, that his services were no longer required and let him go on his way without speaking with the media.

But Pierce once again was asked to represent the club, and the Raiders sent mixed signals until the announcement a day later that he had been fired after just one season as their full-time coach.

“We appreciate Antonio's leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as the head coach,” the team said in a statement. “Antonio grew up a Raiders fan and his Silver and Black roots run deep. We are grateful for his ability to reignite what it means to be a Raider throughout the entire organization. We wish nothing but the best for Antonio and his family in the future.”

Pierce took over as the interim coach midway through the 2023 season and went 5-4 the rest of the way, and players advocated strongly for him to get the job on a full-time basis.

But the Raiders, after a 2-2 start this season, went on a 10-game losing streak to put his job in jeopardy. The Raiders dealt with a number of injuries including to defensive linemen Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins, navigated the Davante Adams early-season drama that culminated with his trade to the New York Jets, and finished the season 4-13.

Pierce was the fourth full-time Raiders coach — Rich Bisaccia closed out the 2021 season as the interim coach — in the past decade.

Going back to 2001 when Jon Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Raiders have had 13 head coaches, including interims Bisaccia and Tony Sparano. That's the most in the NFL over that span, with the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins the closest at 11 apiece.

Pierce was one of three Black coaches hired a year ago, along with Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots and Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons. Mayo was fired Sunday, leaving Morris as the only remaining coach from that trio.

Three coaches have been fired since the end of the season. The Jaguars dismissed Doug Pederson on Monday. Jacksonville has requested to interview eight candidates for the position, including Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

As for where the Raiders turn next, Mike Vrabel has been rumored as a possible candidate. He and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady were teammates with the Patriots, but Vrabel also figures to attract a lot of attention from other clubs with openings, including New England.

Owner Mark Davis has said Brady will have big say in operations, and it's expected that will include the coaching search.

The team has other pressing issues. Las Vegas needs a franchise quarterback, something Pierce did not have at his disposal. Aidan O'Connell has proven to be a capable starter but hasn't shown he has the ability or consistency to take a team deep into the playoffs.

But simply making the playoffs would be a major step forward for whoever gets the job. The Raiders' most recent postseason appearance was three years ago; before that, they had advanced to the playoffs just once since losing in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season.

General manager Tom Telesco will need to fix a number of holes to give the new coach a reasonable chance to compete, most notably at running back and wide receiver. Las Vegas also needs more depth on defense.

Pierce likely will try to remain in the NFL, possibly as a position coach. He had never been a coordinator at this level before getting the Raiders job.

He likely won't return to college because of an eight-year show-cause penalty handed down in October by the NCAA for violations Pierce committed when he was on Arizona State's staff from 2018-21.

Pierce talked Monday about what he hoped was his future with the Raiders, saying any talk about his job status was “not inside the building.” He did acknowledge a sit-down was coming with Davis and Telesco.

A coach speaking with reporters and then getting fired isn't typical, but it's not completely unheard of, either. Matt Eberflus met with the media earlier this season hours before the Chicago Bears fired him.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

National Board of Review Awards hold space for ‘Wicked’

2025-01-09 04:09 Last Updated At：04:11

NEW YORK (AP) — Days after “Wicked” went home from the Golden Globes with a single award for box office achievement, the National Board of Review Awards held space for the smash hit musical, celebrating its cast and director in the New York group's annual gala Tuesday.

The untelevised but starry NBR Awards were a chance for many of the nominees who didn’t win Sunday to trot out their would-be acceptance speeches, including Daniel Craig, the stars of “Wicked” and Nicole Kidman.

Accepting the award for best actress for her performance in the erotic thriller “Babygirl,” Kidman celebrated by chugging a glass of milk, a nod to some of the film's kinky sex games. After finishing, Kidman triumphantly announced “Good girl!" and left the stage.

It also was an opportunity for some jabs at the Globes. “Isn’t this room just a little bit classier than the Beverly Hilton?“ quipped presenter Christine Baranski, looking around the elegant marble-columned midtown venue, Cipriani’s.

Others were less impressed by the old-school New York vibe. “The bathroom attendant, that shouldn’t exist anymore,” Kieran Culkin said during a typically free-form acceptance speech for best supporting actor for his role in “A Real Pain.”

The night belonged to Jon M. Chu's “Wicked.” The musical was the board's pick for best film and best director for Chu, along with a special award for the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The two, in back-and-forth remarks, continued their mutual praise of each other.

“Also you’re welcome,” added Grande. “I truly think you would have murdered anyone else.”

“Probably true,” responded Erivo.

Chu, who was introduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, used the moment to reflect on his yearslong journey with “Wicked,” which will be followed by an already-shot part two due out this November. So lengthy has his time in Oz been that the director noted he had three children during its making, including one born the day of the movie's premiere.

“No twins, same mom,” assured Chu. “I know what you guys are whispering.”

Ryan Reynolds, an avowed fan of the film, took up the topic in his introduction to the film's final award.

“The man missed the premiere of his own film so he could attend the birth of his fifth child,” Reynolds said. “I barely made it to the inception of my own children.”

The common theme of the night was community and togetherness. Coming a day after the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and less than two weeks before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, many alluded to Hollywood's role in the coming years.

Marc Platt, producer of “Wicked,” spoke about the deeper meanings of the film and having “the courage to speak truth to power especially when that power is manifested by those who come to it by blame or divisiveness.”

Craig, the best actor winner for his performance in Luca Guadagnino’s William S. Burroughs’ adaptation, “Queer,” declared: “We are in good shape.”

“If we continue to make and produce movies like this, our industry is going to continue to thrive,” said Craig, who dedicated his award “to the dreamers in the room.” “We need you now more than ever.”

A key feature of the NBR Awards, which were founded in 1909 by film enthusiasts, is its style of award presentation. Each winner is introduced by a close friend, collaborator or admirer. Last year’s surprise guest was Daniel Day-Lewis, who presented for Martin Scorsese and the best-film winner “Killers of the Flower Moon."

This year, Robert Pattinson dropped in to introduce India Donaldson, winner of the breakthrough director award for her acclaimed debut “Good One.” Pattinson called Donaldson “one of the most exciting filmmakers working today.”

Sofia Coppola presented best supporting actress to Elle Fanning, who starred as a 12-year-old in 2010's “Somewhere,” for her performance in “A Complete Unknown.” “She’s really the same person that I met when she was 11,” Coppola said.

Other introductions were more surprising. John Lithgow, there as part of the “Conclave” group that won best ensemble, introduced breakthrough performance winner and “Anora” star Mikey Madison. Lithgow had only just met her but profusely praised her performance, listing a wide array of its traits, one of which drew giggles from the crowd, and the 25-year-old Madison.

“I never thought John Lithgow would call me ‘sexually athletic,’” said Madison, who plays a Brooklyn sex worker in the film.

Carol Kane presented best animated film to the wondrous Latvian film “Flow,” about a cat and other animals in a flooded world. She didn’t, at first, seem well-suited to the job.

“I don’t get animation. I like to watch people, you know,” Kane said. Then she relented, calling “Flow” a revelation. “Animals, for a long time now, have been some of my favorite people.”