During Wednesday’s training camp press conference, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo shared his reasons for inviting former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce to Missouri Western State University for practice.
“Well, I think you guys probably know this. Antonio (Pierce) and I have been close for a long time. I went in ’07 when I went to New York with the Giants. He was the Mike linebacker. The present-day version of Antonio Pierce is Nick Bolton now,” said Spagnuolo, “It’s guys like that. And obviously, looking at Antonio and what he’s like now, he became a coach. He went all the way to being a head coach. He obviously had that when he was a player. That’s a nice thing to have when you’re a defensive coordinator. Guy, that’s cerebral. And I got a lot of respect for Antonio.”
Advertisement
Pierce memorably coached the Raiders to a shocking Christmas Day victory over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in 2023, earning him the head coach role permanently through the 2024 season.
“I’m glad he came through. The guys are loving having them,” said Spagnuolo, “He’s given him feedback from a player’s standpoint, coaches’ standpoint, head coaches’ standpoint, and maybe we’ll ask him about some Las Vegas Raiders stuff.”
The Raiders fired Pierce after a 4-13 season in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo welcomes former Raiders HC to camp