Patrick Mahomes appears to be keeping a close eye on developments within the AFC West, including the latest coaching shakeup involving the Las Vegas Raiders. Meanwhile, fans of the Chiefs quarterback are closely monitoring his social media activity.
Shortly after news broke on Tuesday that the Raiders had dismissed head coach Antonio Pierce following a disappointing season, Mahomes seemingly reacted by “liking” an ESPN Instagram post announcing the decision. Screenshots of the interaction quickly made the rounds online, fueling speculation about Mahomes’ thoughts on the matter.
Pierce’s Journey with the Raiders
Antonio Pierce, initially the Raiders’ linebackers coach, was thrust into the interim head coaching role midway through the 2023 season after the team parted ways with Josh McDaniels. Under Pierce’s leadership, the Raiders went 5-4 to close out the 2023 campaign, including a notable Christmas Day victory over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The 20-14 upset against Kansas City gave the Raiders a brief glimmer of hope during an otherwise turbulent season. In February 2024, Pierce reflected on that win during an appearance on Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby’s podcast, The Rush.
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“The Patrick Mahomes Rules”
In the podcast episode, Pierce likened his defensive strategy against Mahomes to the “Jordan Rules” famously used by the Detroit Pistons to contain Michael Jordan in the late 1980s.
“We’ve got the Jordan rules, and what I’m calling, from now on as long as I’m here, the Patrick Mahomes rules,” Pierce explained. “Before [Jordan] became Air Jordan, the Pistons used to whup his ass. Anytime he came to the hole? Elbows, feeling him, love taps. We touched him. So, I showed those guys Jordan getting his ass whupped.”
Despite this mindset, the Raiders struggled to replicate their Christmas Day success in subsequent matchups. The Chiefs swept Las Vegas in their two meetings during the 2024 season, with Kansas City asserting dominance in both October and November.
A Season of Struggles
Pierce’s tenure as head coach was far from smooth. Following a Black Friday loss to Kansas City that left the Raiders at 2-9, Pierce famously declared his team the “worst in football.” While the Raiders managed to secure a couple of late-season wins, they finished with a dismal 4-13 record after falling to the Chargers in their season finale.
Two days later, the Raiders announced Pierce’s dismissal.
“We appreciate Antonio’s leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as the head coach,” the Raiders said in a statement on Tuesday.
A New Direction for the Raiders
As the Raiders search for a new head coach, many expect franchise minority owner Tom Brady to play a significant role in shaping the team’s next steps. Brady’s involvement could lead to intriguing developments as Las Vegas seeks to rebuild following another disappointing season.
Mahomes and the Chiefs’ Outlook
While Mahomes’ apparent reaction to Pierce’s firing has sparked discussion, the Chiefs star remains focused on leading Kansas City into another playoff run. Fresh off another successful regular season, the Chiefs secured the AFC’s top seed and are poised to chase a historic third consecutive Super Bowl title.
With rival teams like the Raiders undergoing significant transitions, the AFC West remains firmly under Mahomes’ command — for now.
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