TAMPA, Fla. -- The longest tenure for a NFL defensive coordinator will continue next season.
Tampa Bay's Monte Kiffin signed a contract extension Friday, ending speculation that he might leave the team after 12 seasons.
Statistically, the Bucs 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.
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 maintained they expected Kiffin to return for a 13th season and beyond.
The club earlier extended the contracts of offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Bill Muir and special teams coordinator Richard Bisaccia.
Under Kiffin's guidance, the Bucs have led the Bucs in total defense twice, including 2002 when Tampa Bay won its only Super Bowl title.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
