Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin signs contract extension with Bucs

1/18/2008 4:05 PM

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Monte Kiffin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed a contract extension Friday, extending the longest tenure for a NFL defensive coordinator and ending speculation he'd leave after 12 seasons.

The Buccaneers have finished in the top 10 in total defense 10 times since Kiffin joined the team in 1996. Tampa Bay allowed the second-fewest yards in the league in 2007 after ranking 17th the previous season.

Terms of the contract were not announced by the team.

Kiffin is the father of Oakland coach Lane Kiffin, and there were rumors that he might be willing to leave to join his son. There also was talk that he might join close friend Pete Carroll if the USC coach decided to take over the Atlanta Falcons.

All along, Bucs coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen said they expected Kiffin to return.

Under Kiffin's guidance, the Bucs have led the NFL in total defense twice, including 2002 when Tampa Bay won its only Super Bowl title.