Gruden

TAMPA, Fla. — Jon Gruden is out, replaced by another young rising star as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Within hours of dismissing their Super Bowl-winning coach, the Bucs turned to defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as the successor — a move confirmed Friday by a person familiar with the decision who requested anonymity because the team had not yet scheduled an announcement.

Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen were fired earlier in the day, three weeks after the team completed one of the biggest collapses in NFL history, losing four straight games following a 9-3 start to miss the playoffs.

Director of pro personnel Mark Dominik, who has been with the Bucs for 14 seasons, will replace Allen.

A news conference to announce the moves could be held as early as Saturday.

Gruden was one of the league's hottest commodities when he was hired seven years ago to get a team built by Tony Dungy to the Super Bowl. But Gruden only guided the Bucs to the postseason twice after becoming the youngest coach to win the NFL title in January 2003.

That wasn't nearly enough for the sons of owner Malcolm Glazer, who took their time before deciding they had seen enough of aging quarterbacks, mediocre drafts and a coach and general manager who often pinned the blame for poor finishes on injuries.

Gruden, who was 39 when the Bucs beat Oakland in the Super Bowl, went 60-57 in seven seasons, including 3-2 in the playoffs. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons in a reunion of a relationship that began when both were with the Raiders.