On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders pulled the plug on the Antonio Pierce experiment after just one full season as the team's head coach.
The 2024 season was far from encouraging for Pierce and the team, as the Raiders finished 4-13, and the franchise appeared to have taken multiple steps back after last season's 8-9 finish. The season will best be remembered for poor game management, lack of offensive firepower, and the infamous 10-game losing streak.
However, now that the Raiders have moved on, the coaching search begins. Many fans have thrown out names of brilliant offensive minds like Joe Brady, Kellen Moore or Ben Johnson, but Colorado head coach Deion Sanders also emerged as a popular name for Pierce's replacement amongst fans.
"Coach Prime to the Raiders…… who says no," asked former USC star Matt Leinart
"The Raiders should hire Deion Sanders and do whatever it takes to get from No. 6 to No. 2 with the Browns to take Shedeur," wrote one user.
"Say hello to the next coach of the Raiders, Deion Sanders," joked another.
"Saw this coming. Why do I feel Deion Sanders is going to try to get the Raiders to take his son in the draft and hire him as coach," pondered another.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders weighed in on the Jets general manager job.
© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Fans have long been fantasizing about Sanders ending up in Las Vegas, where he'd have a chance to draft his son and star quarterback, Shedeur Sanders. However, "Coach Prime" has shut down interest in coaching at the NFL level a handful of times, with the most recent being when he was linked to the Dallas Cowboys job.
"I’m happy where I am,” Sanders said in November. "I’m good. I’ve got a kickstand down. You know what a kickstand is? … That means I’m resting. I’m good. I’m happy. I’m excited. I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here. I truly do.”
During his time at Jackson State and Colorado, Sanders has accumulated a 40-18 record, and is fresh off a 9-4 season with the Buffs.
While it would be quite the story if Sanders would be able to get the job and draft his son who was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Antonio Pierce's parting gift to the Raiders was winning two too many games. The team's two late wins saw them fall from the No. 1 pick to the No. 6 pick, which is likely out of range for a quarterback.
