NFL teams don't usually look to former players to lead their clubs

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Antonio Pierce was nearing the end of his NFL playing career 16 years ago when he had the chance to intern for Howard Stern's wildly popular and often irreverent radio show.

Pierce enjoyed his time there so much, he initially pursued a post-football career in media.

“Putting on makeup and looking at a camera for eight years is pretty cool,” he said. “But I missed being in that locker room. I missed competing. I missed that fire burning in my stomach.”

So he returned to his first love, getting back into football through coaching.