| OnTheWarpath15 |
01-16-2009 04:50 PM |
Gruden fired by Tampa Bay (NFLN)
Per Sheffter, NFLN
I'll get a link as soon as one is available.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=090...s&confirm=true
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired coach Jon Gruden on Friday, as was first reported by NFL Network's Adam Schefter.
Jon Gruden.
General manager Bruce Allen was also dismissed. After the team collapsed following a 9-3 start and failed to make the playoffs, the organization decided to go in a different direction.
"We will be forever grateful to Jon for bringing us the Super Bowl title, and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise," said Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer. "However, after careful consideration, we feel that this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward."
The Buccaneers were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have landed a NFC wild-card berth.
The 9-7 record this season left Tampa out of the playoffs for the fourth time in six years.
Gruden went 60-57 in seven seasons as head coach of the Buccaneers, including the playoffs. He was the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl when he led Tampa Bay to a 48-21 win over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, his first season with the team.
Gruden was Tampa Bay's coach for seven years before being dismissed. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons.
Gruden's firing means that there will be 10 new head coaches next season, the most since the 2005-06 season.
Information from the Associated Press was included in this report |
