Patrick Mahomes raised eyebrows by pressing a button on social media.
On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders fired Antonio Pierce after completing his first full season as head coach. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback may not mind the AFC West rival's move.
Mahomes appeared to "like" an ESPN Instagram post reporting Pierce's dismissal.
Assuming he didn't accidentally hit the heart symbol, Mahomes may have just paid Pierce the ultimate compliment. He no longer has to face the coach's defense twice a year.
With Pierce serving as interim head coach in 2023, the Raiders upset the Chiefs at Arrowhead on Christmas Day. Mahomes completed 27 of 44 passes for 235 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
After getting hired as the full-time head coach, Pierce said on Maxx Crosby's podcast that the Raiders gave the league a "recipe" for defeating the Chiefs. The former linebacker compared his strategy for defending Mahomes to the famous "Jordan Rules" the Detroit Pistons deployed to guard NBA legend Michael Jordan.
"The Pistons used to whup his a**. Any time he came to the hole? Elbows, feeling him, love taps," Pierce said in February. "We touched him. We're in the head, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. I'm touching you. So, I showed those guys Jordan getting his a** whupped."
The Raiders played the Chiefs tough twice in 2024, but Kansas City notched a 27-20 win in October and a 19-17 road victory on Black Friday. Perhaps Las Vegas would have reconsidered firing Pierce if a botched snap didn't cost his team a chance to attempt a game-winning field goal to stun the Chiefs on the road again.
Mahomes amassed a combined 568 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in those narrow victories. The Raiders sacked him a season-high five times in their second encounter.
"We came up short yet again," Pierce said after the Week 13 loss. "That's the world champs. That's twice now. ... The record is what it is, but this is a team that's prideful, that's playing for one another. There's no quit. There's no putting their head down and chin down. I don't know what you keep saying after losses."
This is also the second time this season Pierce is involved in drama regarding an Instagram "like." He liked a post suggesting Davante Adams played his final game with the Raiders, who later traded the star wide receiver to the New York Jets.
-1739325648-q80.webp "If Broncos Trade-Up in the Draft, Here's How it Could Happen")
-1736739701-q80.webp "The Angry 'Big-Time Play' That Helped The Eagles Sink The Packers")
-1740366544-q80.webp "Broncos Trade Idea Adds 50-TD ‘Joker’ Option After Historic Season")