Oakland Raiders officially announce Jon Gruden hired as head coach

Jon Gruden, pictured here in 2001, led the Raiders to the NFL playoffs twice in his initial four-year tenure as the team's head coach. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

The Oakland Raiders announced Saturday night that they had officially hired Jon Gruden for a second stint as the team's head coach.

The team made the announcement hours after Gruden called the AFC Wild Card Playoff Game between the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs for ESPN, his final broadcast for the network after nine years as a "Monday Night Football" analyst.

Play-by-play man Sean McDonough bid Gruden an emotional farewell after the game, which Tennessee won, 22-21.

"Thank you, coach, as we wrap this one up, all of us last night in our production meeting got a chance to tell you what we think about you and how much you meant to us and to 'Monday Night Football,'" McDonough said. "What a great way to send you off ... Good luck with the Oakland Raiders."

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 offense regressed after the decision to fire coordinator Bill Musgrave and replace him with untested Todd Downing. The defense struggled mightily before a late-season switch from fired coordinator 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 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.

His tenure ended shortly after the "Tuck Rule" loss to the New England 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 but didn't win another playoff game for Tampa Bay in his final six seasons. He has a 95-81 career record.

This would not mark the first time the Raiders brought back a coach for a second stint. Late owner Al Davis hired Art Shell in 2006, 11 years after firing him the first time. Shell went 2-14 that season and was fired after one year.

Other teams have also done it, with one of the most recent notable coaching hires being Joe Gibbs in Washington. Gibbs stepped away following the 1992 season with three Super Bowl titles in his career. He came back in 2004 and had a 30-34 record in four seasons, leading Washington to two playoff berths.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.