The Las Vegas Raiders pulled off one of the most stunning wins of the 2024 NFL season so far. They beat the Baltimore Ravens on the road to secure their first win of the season. It is safe to say that this win meant a lot to the entire organization. However, for Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco, this win is a statement for each of their journeys here. Read below to find out why.
Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco Share Long Hug After Win
Walking off of the field after the Raiders’ win over the Ravens, Telesco came down towards the locker room to greet each player and congratulate them on their victory. Once Telesco did this, he eventually found Pierce walking behind his players. The two saw each other and shared an emotional hug, still being fired up about their upset win on the road.
Long Journeys to Las Vegas
Tom Telesco has had a long journey as a general manager in the NFL. For just over a decade, he held this same position for a division rival.
That team was the Los Angeles Chargers. However, Telesco, along with former head coach Brandon Staley, were fired after a humiliating 63-7 loss to the team he now works for, the Las Vegas Raiders. Once that happened, the Raiders decided they could use his front office experience and brought him on board.
As for Pierce, he was far from guaranteed to be holding the head coach position this season. That is because he was given the interim label in the middle of the 2023 season. This came after former head coach Josh McDaniels was fired in the middle of that season.
When Pierce came, the locker room seemed to improve tremendously, with most of the roster giving their full support for Pierce to maintain the Raiders’ head coach position permanently. Eventually, the Raiders ownership and front office listened, removing the interim label from Pierce’s job title.
Las Vegas Raiders Moving Forward
After a huge road win over the Ravens, the Raiders must make sure they stay focused on the task at hand. Luckily, they have about as soft of a landing as it gets. Las Vegas hosts the Carolina Panthers next week, who just announced earlier today that they are going to bench QB Bryce Young.
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