Don’t look now, but retired New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, who is currently serving as the linebackers coach at Arizona State after a stint as the Long Beach Poly (High School) head coach, is beginning to draw NFL coaching interest.
NFL Network insider and former Giants beat writer, Mike Garafolo, was the first to report the news.
Interesting name popping up in this year's NFL coaching cycle (and last year's actually): Former #Giants and #Redskins LB Antonio Pierce. Currently LBs coach/recruiting coordinator at Arizona State. NFL teams have done their homework on him.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 14, 2020
Immediately upon that report hitting social media, several of Pierce’s former teammates, including Hall of Famers Michael Strahan, were quick express support for Pierce while openly pounding the drum for Big Blue to hire him.
I played with Antonio Pierce. Also played FOR him. At the same time. He will be an outstanding head coach https://t.co/XEpSNzrPoN
— OSI (@OsiUmenyiora) January 14, 2020
I hope @Giants get him. The smartest football mind in the building when we played together. Knows defenses like the back of his hand and on top of that an amazing leader! 🤞🏾 https://t.co/fvnfwGc0ee
— Michael Strahan (@michaelstrahan) January 15, 2020
Please God tell me @Giants are hiring him. Unbelievable smart football player. Probably the smartest football player I played with and that is saying a lot https://t.co/r7fAEGm2Zh
— Justin Tuck (@JustinTuck) January 15, 2020
Pierce signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona in 2001, and went on to play in nine years in the NFL, including five season with the Giants, where he won a Super Bowl championship in 2007. He also went to the Pro Bowl in 2006.
Well-respected among his teammates, Pierce was voted a team captain during his time in blue and was repeatedly lauded as a genuine old school leader. His smarts were never in question and he actually does make sense for the Giants as a potential assistant.
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