A newly installed NFL interim head coach, with a Bermudian father, on Sunday won his first game as coach of American football franchise the Las Vegas Raiders.
Antonio Pierce, the son of Bermudian Cleo Burrows, led the Raiders to a 30-6 blow-out of the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium, in Paradise, Nevada, which improved the team to a 4-5 (W-L) record.
Pierce, was promoted from linebackers coach to the top position last week, after the team fired former head coach Josh McDaniels, less than two years into a six-year contract, estimated to be worth $60 million, along with general manager Dave Ziegler.
Pierce revealed how he had “butterflies” before the game, in which the team made history as the first NFL franchise to operate under a Black interim coach, a Black interim general manager in Champ Kelly and a Black female team president in Sandra Douglass Morgan.
“You don’t take that for granted,” Pierce said after the game. “I’m humbled by the opportunity.”
Pierce, grew up in Compton, California as a Raiders fan and had been employed by the organisation as a linebackers coach, the position he played as a member of the 2008 Super Bowl winning Giants.
Las Vegas put forth their best effort thus far this season during Pierce’s debut, leading from start to finish and celebrated with cigars in the winners dressing room.
“We talked about pride and poise and getting back to being ourselves,” Pierce added. “Everything that’s going on is in front of us, not behind us. The team effort you saw today is what we displayed in practice Thursday and Friday.”
Next week sees the Raiders entertaining another New York outfit in the form of the Jets.
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