Jocelyn Pierce, the wife of Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, filed for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona on June 12. The schedules and statement of financial affairs required in the filing provide a detailed disclosure of the family’s financial status and history, including that Antonio, 45, is subject to judgments that amount to more than $28 million.
According to documents obtained by The Athletic, Jocelyn stated the lenders owed those judgments have attempted to satisfy their judgments from the couple’s assets. The motion goes on to state that two of those lenders — Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation (holding a $23 million judgment) and Hyundai Capital America (holding a $4.5 million judgment) — recently attempted to garnish Antonio’s wages with the Raiders.
It was after those attempts that Jocelyn filed for bankruptcy to “protect her assets and those of the marital community,” according to the documents. The bankruptcy filing took place in Arizona because that’s where Jocelyn officially resides. She has been granted an extension until July 12 to “accurately gather all information concerning the community property while attending to her home and children.”
The Raiders hired Antonio as their linebackers coach in 2022. After former head coach Josh McDaniels was fired last October, Antonio was named interim head coach. Following a nine-game stretch in which the Raiders posted a 5-4 record, the former NFL linebacker, who retired in 2009 after a nine-season playing career, was hired as head coach in January.
The terms of Antonio’s contract with Las Vegas are unknown. A Raiders spokesman declined to comment for this story. Pierce’s agent also declined to comment.
In the bankruptcy filing, Jocelyn, who has been married to Antonio since 2008, stated her husband was convinced to become a “passive investor” in the car dealerships in the 2010s. According to the filing, personal guarantees were later produced that included his name. After several of the businesses he invested in defaulted on their loans, the lenders obtained judgments against their guarantors, which included Antonio.
In 2020, Antonio was listed as a defendant in a class-action lawsuit in Pennsylvania that claimed he, other players and multiple dealerships touted a “Set for Life Program” in 2018 despite becoming aware the businesses would not survive. It’s still listed as an open case.
On April 15, Hyundai motioned to dismiss an arbitration with the plaintiff, while Nissan stated that it had an arbitrator appointed.
A majority of Las Vegas Raiders fans wanted to see Antonio Pierce retained as the team’s head coach after his successful run as the interim leader during the 2023 season. When Pierce took over following the midseason firing of Josh McDaniels, the Raiders were in disarray, with a 3-5 record and a locker room filled with frustration and confusion. However, Pierce’s arrival seemed to bring a renewed sense of energy and purpose to the team. Under his leadership, the Raiders managed to finish with a 5-4 record in their final nine games, showing promise and resilience. For the first time in years, it seemed like the Raiders were on the cusp of something positive.
The change in the team’s culture was palpable. Where McDaniels had alienated players with his rigid, impersonal approach, Pierce brought a more relatable, hands-on style that players respected. His former experience as a player in the NFL, along with his deep understanding of the game, helped him quickly gain the trust of the locker room. Pierce didn’t try to reinvent the wheel, instead focusing on what worked and creating an environment where players could thrive. For many fans, it felt like the Raiders had finally found a coach who understood what it meant to be part of the team, not just an outsider trying to force his system.
Despite his lack of NFL coaching experience—having never served as a coordinator—Pierce’s performance as an interim coach convinced many that he could be the long-term solution. Owner Mark Davis, seeing the positive changes under Pierce’s stewardship, made the bold decision to remove the interim tag and give him the full-time job. It was a move that seemed to make sense at the time, given the palpable shift in the team’s dynamics. Fans rallied behind Pierce, hoping that his leadership would be the spark the Raiders needed to build a sustainable winner.
However, as the 2024 season has unfolded, doubts about the decision to hire Pierce full-time have started to grow. While there was optimism early on, the Raiders have struggled to find consistency, and some of the same issues that plagued the team under McDaniels seem to have resurfaced. The Raiders’ offense, in particular, has underperformed. Despite having a solid quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo, the offense has been disjointed and ineffective. The team’s inability to sustain drives and put points on the board has been a major point of frustration for both fans and analysts alike.
Defensively, the team has shown flashes of promise but has lacked the consistency needed to compete at a high level. The Raiders’ defense, which was one of the more competitive units in the league last season under Pierce’s leadership, has regressed. While some of the blame can be placed on injuries, the overall lack of discipline and poor decision-making on key plays has raised questions about whether Pierce has the ability to adjust and adapt his strategies. In a league that rewards tactical flexibility and innovation, the Raiders’ stagnation has been troubling.
Moreover, Pierce’s inexperience as a head coach is starting to show in his decision-making. The Raiders have been criticized for their inability to close out games and manage key moments in critical situations. Whether it’s poor game management, lack of adjustments at halftime, or questionable play-calling on third downs, the team seems to be stuck in a pattern of unforced errors. It’s clear that the learning curve for Pierce is steep, and while he has made some commendable decisions, there have been just as many head-scratching ones that have left fans wondering if he’s truly ready for the challenge of being an NFL head coach.
Adding to the pressure, the expectations for the Raiders this season were higher than in recent years. After a promising end to the 2023 campaign, fans expected the team to take a step forward in 2024. Instead, the Raiders have been mired in mediocrity, hovering around .500 but failing to show any real signs of improvement. With a playoff-caliber roster on paper, the team’s inability to perform at a high level has only amplified the concerns about Pierce’s coaching acumen. The absence of a true offensive identity and a defensive unit that can’t seem to put together a complete game has left many wondering if Pierce was given too much responsibility too soon.
The lack of progress has raised questions not just about Pierce but also about the Raiders’ front office and their commitment to long-term stability. While Mark Davis’s decision to hire Pierce was based on the positive shift in the team’s culture, it’s becoming apparent that culture alone may not be enough to overcome the challenges of coaching in the NFL. The Raiders have failed to develop a true identity, and their inability to perform consistently has led to growing skepticism about whether Pierce is capable of leading the team to success over the long haul.
On the other hand, it’s important to recognize that the Raiders’ struggles aren’t entirely Pierce’s fault. The franchise has been in a state of flux for years, with coaching changes, player turnover, and a lack of organizational cohesion all playing a part in the team’s lack of sustained success. While Pierce is the face of the team’s current struggles, he’s also part of a larger issue that has plagued the Raiders for decades. Until the organization as a whole addresses its long-standing issues—such as poor draft decisions, free-agent misfires, and a lack of strong leadership—any head coach is going to face an uphill battle.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to give Pierce time to grow into the role. NFL head coaches often take time to find their footing, especially when they’re transitioning from an assistant role. While the pressure to win in the NFL is always immediate, many successful coaches have had to endure tough learning curves before finding sustained success. It may be too soon to completely dismiss Pierce’s potential, but the current state of the Raiders raises a valid question: Is he really the right guy to lead this team, or was the decision to hire him a premature gamble that the franchise may come to regret?
As the season progresses, the Raiders will have to make some tough decisions. If the team’s performance doesn’t improve, questions about Pierce’s future will only intensify. But if he can find a way to address the team’s issues and start showing consistent improvement, perhaps the franchise will begin to see the long-term payoff of a coach who understands what it means to be part of the Raiders’ legacy. However, with each passing week, the reality is that Mark Davis and the Raiders may be facing a crossroads. If they want to compete at a high level, they may need to reconsider their commitment to Antonio Pierce and make a change before it’s too late.
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