Raiders bringing back Gruden as coach in bid to recapture past successes

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders have officially hired Jon Gruden as their coach.

The team announced the move Saturday as soon as Gruden finished his final broadcast as an announcer for ESPN. Gruden will be formally introduced at a news conference Tuesday.

Gruden is returning for a second stint as coach of the Raiders after being traded to Tampa Bay following the 2001 season.

He led the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl title over Oakland the following season.

He has been out of coaching since being fired by Tampa Bay after the 2008 season.

The Raiders fired Jack Del Rio following the end of a disappointing six-win season.

Oakland won 12 games in 2016 to earn Del Rio a four-year extension but the team fell flat this season.

The offence regressed after the decision to fire co-ordinator Bill Musgrave and replace him with untested Todd Downing.

The defence struggled mightily before a late-season switch from fired co-ordinator Ken Norton Jr. to play-caller John Pagano.

That led to the decision to fire Del Rio following his third season and go hard after Gruden, who reportedly will get a 10-year contract that is worth an estimated $100 million.

Gruden spent four seasons as coach in Oakland, from 1998-2001.

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.