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According to a rumour on Friday, the Las Vegas Raiders are likely to announce coach Antonio Pierce as their new head coach.

After Josh McDaniels was fired, Pierce took over as interim coach of the Raiders and guided the team to a 5-4 record. The players were very supportive of Pierce. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, owner MarkDavis is  currently trying to close a deal with Pierce to make him the head coach full-time.

Although 45-year-old Pierce altered the atmosphere in the locker room, Davis was more influenced by the team’s performance.

Under Pierce, the Raiders won their first two games, but lost their next three, including a depressing 3-0 setback to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14. After then, the Raiders triumphed against the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21, setting a franchise record for points in a game. For the second time since 2013, they triumphed over Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium, and they also won their final game against the Denver Broncos.

The Raiders won three of their nine games by double digits and defeated opponents from the AFC West division 3-1. Under McDaniels, the Raiders failed to record any double-digit victories. Under Pierce, the Raiders allowed the highest average of 16 points per game in the league from Weeks 9–18.

The players embraced Pierce’s approach and way of thinking. Davante Adams, a wide receiver, claimed that he “runs through a wall” for Pierce. Maxx Crosby, a defensive end, vowed to make a trade request if Pierce was not given a full-time head coaching position.

On his podcast, Crosby said, “I want to be a Raider, but if we go in a different direction, there is nothing that is off the table.”

Naturally, Crosby is pleased that Pierce will take over as head coach of the Raiders.

With an 8-9 record at the end of the season, Pierce will need to make some choices. At quarterback, there is ambiguity. Jimmy Garoppolo was a free agent when the Raiders signed him, but in Week 9, Pierce benched him in favour of rookie Aidan O’Connell. O’Connell is unlikely to start at the front of the training camp, though.

In 2001, Pierce was an undrafted linebacker from Arizona. He had nine NFL seasons as a player, with the Giants (2005–09) and Washington (2001–04). In Super Bowl 42, he led the Giants’ championship-winning defence that overcame the unbeaten New England Patriots.