History of Antonio Pierce in Timeline
Antonio Durran Pierce is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL. Before becoming head coach, he was the Raiders' linebackers coach from 2022 to 2023.
October 26, 1978: Antonio Pierce's Birth
Antonio Durran Pierce was born on October 26, 1978.
1997: Pierce's Junior College Success
As a sophomore in 1997, Antonio Pierce played a key role in Mt. SAC's victory in the CCCAA state title, intercepting a crucial pass during the game.
2001: Pierce Signs with Washington Redskins
Antonio Pierce signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins in 2001. He played in all 16 games, starting 8, and made 52 tackles, one sack, and one interception.
2001: Pierce Undrafted in NFL Draft
Despite his college career, Antonio Pierce went undrafted in the 2001 NFL draft, with scouts citing his size as a concern.
2002: Pierce's Sophomore Season with Redskins
Antonio Pierce's playing time decreased during his second season with the Redskins, recording 18 tackles in 2002.
2003: Pierce's Third Season with Redskins
In 2003, Antonio Pierce continued to see limited playing time with the Redskins, making 15 tackles during the season.
2004: Pierce's Breakout Season
Antonio Pierce stepped up as a starter for the Washington Redskins in 2004 due to an injury to Micheal Barrow. He excelled, achieving a career-high 114 tackles, including a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown.
March 3, 2005: Pierce Joins the New York Giants
On March 3, 2005, Antonio Pierce signed with the New York Giants, taking on the role of starting middle linebacker. He quickly became a defensive leader for the team. However, his season was cut short due to a leg injury sustained against the Philadelphia Eagles.
2006: Pierce's Pro Bowl Caliber Season
Antonio Pierce had a standout season in 2006, recording a career-high 138 tackles. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate and was later invited to play due to Brian Urlacher's injury.
2006: Pierce's Community Involvement
Antonio Pierce actively engaged with his community in 2006 by becoming a spokesperson for the Giants Academy, a program designed to support inner-city youth. He also dedicated his time to the "Read Across America" program, reading to children at the Odyssey House in Harlem.
2007: Pierce Receives Community Service Awards
Antonio Pierce was recognized for his community service efforts in 2007, receiving the "United Way Man of the Year" award and an honor from the Catholic Diocese.
2007: Pierce Wins Super Bowl with Giants
Antonio Pierce won the Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2007.
2007: Pierce's Impact in NFC Championship
In the 2007 NFC Championship game, Antonio Pierce made a crucial tackle, stopping Green Bay's Brandon Jackson short of a touchdown and forcing a field goal attempt. The Giants won the game in overtime.
May 7, 2008: Internship at The Howard Stern Show
On May 7, 2008, Antonio Pierce began a communications internship at The Howard Stern Show, expressing his interest in a broadcasting career post-NFL. He was invited to extend his internship for the rest of the week after impressing Howard Stern.
November 9, 2008: Pierce Involved in Burress Gun Incident
On November 9, 2008, Antonio Pierce was present when teammate Plaxico Burress accidentally discharged a firearm. Pierce assisted Burress in getting to the hospital. While he faced scrutiny for not immediately reporting the incident to the police, he ultimately did cooperate with the investigation and was not charged.
November 28, 2008: Plaxico Burress Shooting Incident
On November 28, 2008, Antonio Pierce was present when teammate Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg at a nightclub. Pierce drove Burress to the hospital and later had his vehicle impounded by police investigating the incident.
2008: Pierce and the Giants Honored at ESPYs
Antonio Pierce, along with his New York Giants teammates, received recognition at the 2008 ESPY awards.
August 3, 2009: Cleared of Charges
On August 3, 2009, Antonio Pierce was cleared of all charges related to the Plaxico Burress shooting incident from the previous year. He was represented by attorney Michael F. Bachner.
February 11, 2010: Pierce's Release from the Giants
Antonio Pierce's time with the New York Giants ended on February 11, 2010, when the team released him.
July 8, 2010: Pierce Announces Retirement, Joins ESPN
On July 8, 2010, Antonio Pierce announced his retirement from professional football and transitioned into a new role as an NFL analyst for ESPN.
February 7, 2014: Pierce Becomes Head Coach at Long Beach Poly
Antonio Pierce was named the head coach at Long Beach Polytechnic High School on February 7, 2014, succeeding Raul Lara.
2014: Pierce Begins High School Coaching Career
Antonio Pierce started his coaching journey in 2014 as the head coach at Long Beach Polytechnic High School.
2016: Challenges at Long Beach Poly
Antonio Pierce faced adversity in his second season (2016) as head coach at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, with the team missing the playoffs for the first time in 36 years.
December 21, 2017: Pierce Joins Arizona State Coaching Staff
Antonio Pierce transitioned from his high school coaching role to become the linebackers coach at Arizona State University on December 21, 2017.
2017: Continued Struggles at Long Beach Poly
The Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits, led by head coach Antonio Pierce, continued to struggle in 2017, falling short of 10 wins for a second consecutive season and experiencing another disappointing playoff exit.
2018: Pierce Joins Arizona State Coaching Staff
Antonio Pierce joined the coaching staff of Arizona State University in 2018 as an assistant coach.
2020: Pierce Serves as Co-Defensive Coordinator at ASU
Antonio Pierce shared the role of defensive coordinator with Marvin Lewis during the 2020 season at Arizona State University.
2020: Raiders End Losing Streak to Chiefs
The Raiders, led by interim head coach Antonio Pierce, secured their first victory over the Kansas City Chiefs since 2020 on Christmas Day.
January 20, 2021: Pierce Named Sole Defensive Coordinator at ASU
Antonio Pierce was promoted to the position of sole defensive coordinator at Arizona State University on January 20, 2021, after sharing the role with Marvin Lewis.
2021: Pierce's Tenure at Arizona State Ends
Antonio Pierce's time at Arizona State University ended in 2021.
2022: Pierce Begins Raiders Coaching Career
Antonio Pierce began his tenure as linebackers coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.
2022: Pierce's Departure from ASU
Antonio Pierce left Arizona State University prior to the 2022 season amid an NCAA recruiting violation investigation.
2022: Pierce Hired as Raiders Linebackers Coach
In 2022, Antonio Pierce joined the Las Vegas Raiders as their linebackers coach under head coach Josh McDaniels.
August 2023: ASU Self-Imposes Bowl Ban Amidst Investigation
In August 2023, Arizona State University announced a self-imposed bowl ban as part of an ongoing NCAA recruiting violation investigation that involved Antonio Pierce during his time as a coach.
October 31, 2023: Pierce Named Interim Head Coach of Raiders
Following the dismissal of Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce was appointed as the interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders on October 31, 2023.
November 5, 2023: Pierce's Head Coaching Debut
Antonio Pierce made his debut as an NFL head coach on November 5, 2023, leading the Raiders against his former team, the New York Giants, to a decisive 30-6 victory.
December 14, 2023: Record-Breaking Win for the Raiders
On December 14, 2023, the Las Vegas Raiders, under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, achieved a historic victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, setting a new franchise record for most points scored in a game with a final score of 63-21.
2023: Pierce Promoted to Raiders Head Coach
Antonio Pierce served as the linebackers coach for the Raiders until 2023 when he was promoted to head coach.
January 19, 2024: Pierce Officially Named Raiders Head Coach
On January 19, 2024, the Las Vegas Raiders removed the interim tag and officially appointed Antonio Pierce as the 23rd head coach in the franchise's history.