Five interesting facts about Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce

2. He’s dabbled in acting

Pierce hasn’t appeared in any high-profile blockbusters, but he has acted on and off since 2009. He’s appeared in two episodes of the television series “Cubed” in 2009, a movie called “Who Killed Soul Glow?” in 2012 and a documentary titled “98 Seconds” in 2018. 

3. He was a captain of a Super Bowl-winning team

Pierce was the defensive captain of the New York Giants when they defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 to win Super Bowl XLII in 2008. He had a team-high 11 tackles in the game. The Patriots were 16-0 heading into that game and one win away from matching the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated teams in NFL history.

4. He’s won awards for his work in the community

Giving back to the community has been an important part of Pierce’s life away from the field. He received two Man of the Year awards over the years, one from the United Way in 2007 and the other from Minority Athletes Networking Inc. in 2008.

Pierce is involved with several charities and non-profit organizations including City Meals on Wheels, DARE, the Make a Wish Foundation, My Sisters Place, the Red Cross and the YMCA.  

5. He was involved in the Plaxico Burress foot shooting incident of 2008

Seemingly everyone remembers the November 2008 incident when Burress, the New York Giants’ star receiver, shot himself in the leg at a New York City nightclub. According to police reports from the incident, Pierce drove Burress to the hospital and then took the firearm used in the shooting home with him.

Pierce’s vehicle was later searched for gunpowder residue and DNA. He was cleared of all criminal charges nine months later while Burress pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon.