Antonio Pierce grew up a fan in Southern California. Now, the fiery former NFL linebacker is Las Vegas' new full-time head coach,  Garrett Luinstra Jersey with ESPN reporting Friday the two sides are finalizing a deal.Pierce, who had been the Raiders' linebackers coach in 2022, took over as interim head coach in Week 9 last season after owner Mark Davis fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler amid a 3-5 start to the year.Pierce quickly won over players and fans alike while leading the Raiders to a 5-4 record over the rest of the season, and reportedly had widespread support in the Raiders' locker room to get the permanent head coaching job.ADVERTISEMENT  Amid reports recently Davis was interested in bringing in a bigger name such as former Raiders quarterbacks coach and current head coach Jim Harbaugh while other teams sought to interview Pierce for their own head coaching vacancies, star Raiders defensive end tweeted #HireAP (referring to Pierce) and was echoed by several teammates.Crosby, a two-time second team All-Pro, if Pierce was not made the full-time coach and publicly hinted as much on his podcast.However, Pierce's chances of getting the full-time role appeared to increase in recent days. The Raiders only interviewed two external candidates for the job  ex- defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and ex- defensive coordinator Kris Richard  the minimum amount  Garrison Solliday Jersey required by the NFL's Rooney Rule, despite an uncommonly deep crop of NFL head coach candidates this cycle. Neither Frazier nor Richard coached in pro football in 2023.Additionally, Hall of Fame former Raiders defensive lineman Richard Seymour was seen posing alongside Pierce and interim general manager Champ Kelly at Las Vegas' Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade on Monday, soon after Seymour confirmed on social media that he was heavily involved in the Raiders' coaching search.The Raiders are reportedly deciding between Kelly and Colts a sistant general manager Ed Dodds to lead their front office. FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd  Marcus Hardison Jersey reported Monday that Las Vegas could target current USC a sistant and former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury for offensive coordinator under Pierce.Raiders eyeing Kliff Kingsbury as OC on Antonio Pierce's staff      Pierce played nine years in the NFL with Washington and the , winning the Super Bowl with the Giants after the 2007 season in the game that famously ruined the ' would-be perfect season. Jeffrey Banks Jersey After playing, he worked in media briefly, then returned to his native Los Angeles area to be a high school head coach at Southern California powerhouse Long Beach Poly. Pierce then joined the coaching staff at under Herm Edwards in 2018, eventually rising to the title of a sociate head coach and defensive coordinator. Pierce resigned in 2022, however, after being implicated in an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations at Arizona State. He then joined the Raiders after McDaniels was hired there.Just before McDaniels' firing, the longtime Patriots a sistant confronted Pierce after Pierce evoked the 2008 Giants-Patriots Super Bowl in a speech to Raiders players, according to FOX Sports' .Jay Glazer breaks down details of what led up to Raiders' decision to part ways with Josh McDaniels      Pierce will now be tasked with leading a Raiders roster that has superstar-caliber talent in players such as Crosby and wide  Verone McKinley III Jersey receiver but major holes elsewhere, including at quarterback. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to rece