Ex-Bengals HC Marvin Lewis returns with Raiders aiming to aid Antonio Pierce: 'Hopefully I can benefit AP'

The start of the 2024 season for the Las Vegas Raiders will signify the NFL coaching comeback of Marvin Lewis.

The former longtime head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals said on Wednesday that his motivation to return was simply to help head coach Antonio Pierce.

“When asked about what attracted him to his role, Raiders Assistant Head Coach Lewis said, “I was primarily drawn to the chance to assist AP. Since our initial meeting and my first opportunity to coach him, I’ve been consistently impressed by him. We later reunited at Arizona State where I held a similar supporting role. I’ve been appreciative of our collaborations since our time at the Commanders back in 2002. So, it’s essentially this opportunity that appealed to me.”

From 1996 to 2001, Lewis served as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator, leading a remarkable 2000 defensive team that was instrumental in the franchise’s victory at Super Bowl XXXV. Following his time with the Ravens, he took up the defensive coordinator post for Washington in the 2002 season, before becoming the head coach for the Bengals. During that 2002 season, he coached a young, 24-year-old Pierce. Although Pierce was yet to reach his peak playing years, he evidently left a strong impression on Lewis.

“Lewis acknowledged that he knew the individual was motivated as a player.”

Lewis has not been an NFL coach since 2018, which was his final year with the Bengals. His tenure with the team lasted 16 seasons and ended with a 131-122-3 record, including seven trips to the playoffs. After his time in the NFL, Lewis joined the Arizona State staff where Pierce was also a member, from 2018 to 2021.

Pierce was hired as the Raiders linebackers coach in 2022, became the interim head coach in 2023 following Josh McDaniels’ ousting and was subsequently hired as full-time head coach. During his 2023 tenure, Pierce called on former head coaches like Lewis, Tom Coughlin and Adam Gase.

“Lewis stated, “He isn’t self-absorbed. He is open to hearing other people’s perspectives and so on. That’s commendable. However, he also has a strong sense of direction as a leader. He assumes the responsibility of setting and continually reinforcing that direction.”

As Lewis climbed the coaching ladder, he gained knowledge from Bill Cowher, Brian Billick, and Steve Spurrier. Now, he aspires to offer Pierce the same kind of mentorship.

“Lewis said, “I believe those experiences were beneficial for me when I had the chance to become a head coach. Hopefully, I can also use them to benefit AP.”

Lewis lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, so being relatively near to Las Vegas facilitated his decision-making process. However, it wasn’t something he actively pursued.

“He said, ‘It came quite naturally. I’m thrilled about it. There were a few instances when people inquired about my interest in doing something similar.'”

Likewise, Lewis was 45 in his inaugural year as the Bengals’ head coach, and Pierce will be turning 46 in the 2024 season, which will be his first year as a full-time NFL head coach. Both of them are coaches with a defensive focus. Lewis is aspiring to provide the same kind of mentoring he got during the initial phase of his NFL coaching journey.

Furthermore, he did not elaborate much on the specifics of his role as an assistant head coach.

“Lewis stated, “My purpose here is to assist the coaches in any way possible, as well as the team and the players. This is significant to me. I strive to maintain a balanced environment for them as much as possible.”

Pierce, with only two seasons of NFL coaching under his belt, ushers in a new era for the Silver and Black. He has the advantage of drawing from Lewis’s nearly three decades of NFL coaching wisdom for support.