Raiders coaching search: Maxx Crosby sends Mark Davis a message

Star defensive end wants team to hire Antonio Pierce

The news that Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce will interview for the Tennessee Titans head-coaching job this weekend has caught the attention of the team’s best player, defensive end Maxx Crosby and he clearly is not comfortable with the situation.

Crosby pushed for Pierce vis Twitter on Friday morning, and then NFL Media reported that Crosby is “drawing a line in the sand” about his desire for Pierce to be named the Raiders head coach.

Sources close to Crosby said Crosby is serious about his stance and the perception that he wants out of Las Vegas if Pierce isn’t promoted is not an incorrect observation.

Crosby, who is entering his sixth NFL season, badly wants leadership stability and consistency within the organization. He supported interim coach Rich Bisaccia two years ago when Josh McDaniels was hired and he wants Pierce now.

Crosby, along with several other Raiders players, have publicly supported Pierce for weeks. He believes in his leadership and doesn’t see the point of hiring someone else.

The fact that Pierce is talking to another team and there has been no movement on the head-coaching hire (the Raiders are focused on the general manager search) has made Crosby uneasy. These social-media posts are clearly a message to Raiders’ owner Mark Davis that the players want Pierce.

If Davis goes elsewhere, he is going to have an unhappy locker room led by the team’s best player. So, perhaps this pushes Davis to make a quick decision to promote Pierce.

Crosby played more snaps in 2023 than any defensive player in the NFL n the past 10 years. He played through major injuries in 2023. He has given this team his all and he wants the stability he deserves.

If Davis doesn’t listen to Crosby and hires someone other than Pierce, it could cause for a tense offseason between the team and its star.