WATCH: “If you don’t love this, shame on you!” – Antonio Pierce’s fiery speech during his first team meeting as Raiders HC breaks the internet

The Raiders are among those 25 teams whose offseason program started on Monday.

WATCH: “If you don’t love this, shame on you!” – Antonio Pierce’s fiery speech during his first team meeting as Raiders HC breaks the internet

Antonio Pierce motivated Raiders locker room (Via Imago/X)

In the middle of the 2023 season, the Las Vegas Raiders became one of those few teams without a head coach. The franchise fired Josh McDaniels on Halloween night after just one and a half seasons with him. 

Raiders owner Mark Davis had referred to it as a personal apology to the players for wasting their season, followed by the promotion of Antonio Pierce as the interim head coach. For some time, the franchise had also pursued Jim Harbaugh for the available head coach position. 

YouTube video

However, seeing Pierce change the entire environment of the locker room along with the players’ improved games, Davis decided to go forward with him as the head coach. And they were sure right with their decision.

As the Raiders are among those 25 teams whose offseason program started on Monday, the team appears full of spirit. 

Raiders locker room setting standards and expectations

On Tuesday, the franchise officially shared some videos from the first day of the offseason program, where head coach Pierce can be seen addressing his players in the locker room, discussing the strategies for the upcoming NFL draft. 

First of all, I appreciate everybody being here. Totally voluntary, I get it. But Maxx, we're always talking about it. We wanna be great. Gotta show up every day. There's a standard. There's expectations and then there's the Raider Way. Get better. D-line, get better. Wide receiver corps., get better. QBs, get better. Specialists, get better. AP, get better. Patrick, get better.
Said the Raiders new head coach, Antonio Pierce
Antonio Pierce Las Vegas Raiders
Antonio Pierce (via Bleacher Report)

As he addressed everyone presented in the Raiders locker room, Pierce motivated them to show their passion for football. With a resilient voice, he asserted that it’s the same for those seated in that room who do not love what they do. 

We're earning the right to keep going each and every day. So show that passion and love for the game and for being a Raider. We're on the same page? Let's be [expletive] great today. Appreciate you. Let's go.
Contining further, Antonio Pierce added

The biggest reason for Pierce’s speech to come into action is that his players respect and support them. There’s not a single player in the Raiders locker room who seemed dissatisfied with Pierce’s coaching style. As they move forward to the next season, the team is all energized and filled with motivation to claim victory.

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