The Guardian (Charlottetown)

Back in black and silver

Oakland Raiders to announce Gruden hiring Tuesday: Source

- BY JOSH DUBOW

The Oakland Raiders are set to bring Jon Gruden back for a second stint as coach.

A person with knowledge of the team’s plans said the Raiders are planning a news conference Tuesday to announce Gruden is leaving the broadcast booth to come back to coaching. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the team has made no formal announceme­nt.

The Raiders fired Jack Del Rio following a disappoint­ing sixwin season and talk immediatel­y turned to Gruden, who spent four years as coach for the Raiders before being dealt to Tampa Bay, where he beat Oakland in the Super Bowl following his first season in 2002.

Gruden has been out of coaching for nine years while serving as the lead analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” telecast.

The news conference was first reported by the Raiders Snake Pit website.

ESPN reported Gruden will receive a 10-year deal that will be the longest coaching contract in NFL history and could be worth close to $100 million. Gruden has already started putting together a staff with Cincinnati defensive co-ordinator Paul Guenther among those expected to join him.

Gruden told ESPN earlier this week he had a good talk with Raiders owner Mark Davis about returning to the organizati­on and believed there was a “good chance” it would happen.

Gruden is scheduled to work the network’s playoff game Saturday in Kansas City between the Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.

Gruden spent four seasons as coach in Oakland from 19982001. After leading the Raiders to 8-8 records his first two years, Gruden helped the team reach the AFC title game following the 2000 season and got Oakland back into the playoffs the following season.

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