The Raiders are in the final stages of securing an agreement to appoint Antonio Pierce as their next head coach.

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the process of finalizing a deal to appoint Antonio Pierce as their next head coach, according to a source familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity as the team has yet to make an official announcement.

Antonio Pierce, 45, assumed the role of Las Vegas’ interim coach on Halloween night following the termination of Josh McDaniels. Under his interim leadership, the Raiders achieved a 5-4 record, contributing to an overall season record of 8-9. Players voiced their support for Pierce from the outset.

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby expressed confidence in the team’s direction, stating, “Why wouldn’t we keep going the direction we’re going? The fact that we’ve come together and done something special in such a short time is hard to do. We’ve got a guy who’s played at the highest level, won a Super Bowl, he’s been a captain, and now he’s a great coach and he’s a leader.” The fan base also embraced Pierce, with the crowd chanting “AP!” during a game against the Broncos.

Pierce faces the task of revitalizing a once-iconic franchise that has missed the playoffs in 19 of the past 21 seasons. NFL hiring regulations required Raiders owner Mark Davis to interview at least two external minority and/or female candidates to comply with the Rooney Rule. This process was fulfilled with interviews of former Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and former New Orleans Saints co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard.

Pierce, once officially appointed, will need to make decisions regarding his coaching staff. He may choose to retain interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree or seek a new candidate. Additionally, working with the upcoming general manager on personnel matters, including the quarterback position, will be crucial. Pierce had rookie Aidan O’Connell as the starting quarterback, and while O’Connell showed improvement, there are lingering concerns about the need for a franchise quarterback. The Raiders hold the 13th pick in this year’s draft, making it challenging to secure top QB prospects.

The future of running back Josh Jacobs is another key issue to address, considering his contract dispute after the franchise tag was placed on him and a decline in production coupled with an injury that caused him to miss the final month of the season.