Raiders owner provides update on head-coaching search

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis.

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis recently signaled he’s still unsure whether or not he will promote interim head coach Antonio Pierce.

“It’s wide-open,” Davis said of the head-coaching search, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed. “I just don’t know. I’m not making a commitment right now. So, in the process, I’m getting a lot of calls from people who have clients who they feel would be great for the job. I’m banking those names, and we’ll see what happens once the season is over.”

Since Pierce took over for Josh McDaniels, the Raiders (5-8) have a 2-3 record. They also suffered an embarrassing 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14.

Not all problems fall on Pierce, however, as Las Vegas clearly lacks a franchise QB. Rookie Aidan O’Connell has started all five games under Pierce. During this stretch, he’s thrown more interceptions (five) than TDs (three) and posted a below-average 75.7 passer rating.

Still, it’s unclear if Pierce has what it takes to become a successful coach at the NFL level. Davis can’t take another risk after firing five HCs since January 2012.

“I look in the mirror, and the buck stops with me,” Davis told Reed. “But we’re coming up to bat. Let’s see if we can get it right this time. I would love for the guys that are in this job right now to be able to keep it, but we’ll see how that goes.”

If Pierce doesn’t become the head coach, don’t be surprised if Las Vegas tries to convince Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh to return to the NFL. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted Davis wanted to hire him in 2015 and could try again.

Regardless, the Raiders must get their next hire right. They’ve made only two postseason appearances since 2013.

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