Source: Gruden to Raiders next week
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 that Gruden is leaving the broadcast booth to come back to coaching.
The Raiders fired Jack Del Rio following a disappointing six-win season and talk immediately turned to Gruden. Gruden 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.
ESPN reported that 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 coordinator Paul Guenther among those expected to join.
Gruden is scheduled to work the network’s playoff game today in Kansas City between the Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.
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.
His tenure ended shortly after the “Tuck Rule” loss to the Patriots when he was traded the following month to Tampa Bay for two first-round draft picks, two second-rounders and $8 million.
Gruden beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl in his first season with the Buccaneers. He has a 95-81 career record.
More NFL: McCoy iffy
Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (ankle) is questionable for tomorrow’s AFC wild card playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Also, Jaguars receiver Marqise Lee practiced for the first time in three weeks, increasing his chances of playing . . . .
Miami Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry has been fined $48,620 by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct, but he avoided a suspension for his role in a brawl with the Buffalo Bills.
Colleges: Jackson to pros
Junior quarterback Lamar Jackson announced he will leave Louisville to enter the NFL draft, one season after becoming the youngest Heisman Trophy winner.
Jackson’s decision was somewhat expected after compiling statistics better in some areas than his Heisman-winning numbers as a sophomore. He finished third in this year’s Heisman voting. …
Wake Forest defensive back Jessie Bates III says he will forgo his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. …
Southern California tailback Ronald Jones II will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. …
The University of Minnesota suspended basketball standout Reggie Lynch due to an alleged violation of the school’s sexual misconduct policy after a second woman accused him of assault.
Misc.: Tight in Hawaii
Brian Harman made good on his second chip at the par-5 15th hole for an unlikely birdie, and a long 2-putt birdie on the closing par 5 at Kapalua gave him a 5-under 68 and a share of the lead with Marc Leishman in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii.
Leishman played bogey-free and narrowly missed an eagle on the 18th hole for a 69.
They were at 10-under 136 and a shot ahead of Dustin Johnson, who overcame a rough start. Johnson, the world’s No. 1 player, made back-toback bogeys and then had to settle for par with a 7-iron for his second shot on the par-4 fifth hole. But he made seven birdies from there for a 68. …
Tyler Steenbergen re-directed in Connor Timmins’ pass to break a tie with 1:40 left and Canada beat Sweden, 3-1, to win the world junior hockey championship in Buffalo.
Earlier, Trent Frederic scored four times in leading the United States to a 9-3 victory over the Czech Republic in the bronze-medal game.