Antonio Pierce parlayed his success as interim coach for the Las Vegas Raiders late in the 2023 NFL season into a full head coaching gig for the team. Not everyone believes in Pierce, but many others also love the kind of culture and energy he is bringing into the Raiders’ locker room. According to former Raiders general manager Michael Lombardi, Pierce doesn’t have the right idea about what the “Raider Way” truly entails.
Michael Lombardi Criticizes Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce
Lombardi let everyone know about his feelings about it during a recent episode of The GM Shuffle Podcast (h/t Raidersbeat.com).
“The ‘Raider Way’ isn’t a word,” Lombardi said. “It’s about ‘this a prototype of the player we want at this position. This is a prototype of a player we want at that position.’ That’s the Raider Way. What’s so comical is what he’s talking about is because he’s from Compton, he thinks he knows the Raider Way. It’s a joke.”
Lombardi bashing Pierce on the pod today. #Raiders pic.twitter.com/ds3D3GhPEj
— cmv10 (@TheCmv10) February 27, 2024
Unfortunately for Lombardi, Las Vegas Raiders and other football fans are not on the same page with him, with his comments about Pierce having seemingly backfired.
“Michael Lombardi was fired by Al Davis. His son, Mick Lombardi, was fired by Mark Davis. Bad history with the Raiders. Both also fully deserved to be fired. Saying Pierce doesn’t know the Raider way is the joke. Not Pierce,” said Christopher Hansen.
Michael Lombardi mad AP fired his sons 😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/MgjFeCYD2T
— Zaire (@_zairejones) February 28, 2024
From X user @JKBOGEN: “I really dislike Michael Lombardi. Nothing he says has any merit. He makes things up. Just tired of hearing and seeing him. He’s supposedly an incredibly intelligent football mind but he chooses to be clickbaity instead. Waste of his expertise if you ask me.”
Lombardi was all about the Raiders coaching staff last year, wonder what changed???? https://t.co/JIW6crYGUF
— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) February 28, 2024
Pierce has yet to comment on Lombardi’s hot take, but his main focus isn’t on dealing with his critics but on getting the Las Vegas Raiders ready for the 2024 NFL season.