Bill Parcells could have returned to the Dallas Cowboys for one more shot at becoming the first coach to lead three teams into the Super Bowl.

He could have come back to try ending the longest playoff drought in the franchise's proud history. Or he could have come back to finish what he started in developing quarterback Tony Romo and a 3-4 defense.

Instead, 15 days after a gut-wrenching playoff loss in Seattle, Parcells decided yesterday to call it a career, ending a four-year run in Dallas and a 19-year tenure in the NFL that included three Super Bowls and two championships.

"I am retiring from coaching football," Parcells, 65, said in a statement. "I want to thank Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones for their tremendous support over the last four years. Also, the players, my coaching staff and others in the support group who have done so much to help. Dallas is a great city and the Cowboys are an integral part of it. I am hopeful that they are able to go forward from here."

"I just think it's time," Parcells told The Dallas Morning News when reached last night. "Physically I could do it again, but mentally, I think that's the difference."

Parcells leaves with the ninth-most wins in NFL history and a career record of 183-138-1. He was 34-32 in Dallas, counting two playoff losses. He had one year left at more than $5 million on a contract extension signed last January.

Although he failed to make the Cowboys champions again, Parcells leaves the Cowboys better than he found it. The club went from three straight 5-11 seasons before he arrived to making the playoffs twice in four years.

"His contributions to the game of football and to the NFL are immeasurable," team owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. "We will always be grateful for his dedicated effort and commitment to the Dallas Cowboys."

Jones has given no indication of what kind of coach he'd hire next. Jones could go for proven commodities like Tennessee's Jeff Fisher or Bill Cowher, recently resigned from Pittsburgh. He also might chase a big-name college coach, from Notre Dame's Charlie Weis, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops to Southern California's Pete Carroll, who replaced Parcells in New England a decade ago.

Or, maybe Jones will pursue Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, or former NFL coaches like San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips or San Francisco offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

RAIDERS

KIFFIN BECOMES NFL'S YOUNGEST HEAD COACH

The Oakland Raiders hired Lane Kiffin last night, making the 31-year-old Southern California offensive coordinator the youngest NFL head coach in decades.

Kiffin, the son of Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, earned the job with a strong interview yesterday after the Raiders failed to reach a deal last week with 32-year-old Steve Sarkisian, Kiffin's fellow assistant to Pete Carroll at USC.

Raiders owner Al Davis quickly moved to land an up-and-coming offensive mind with sterling college credentials, but just one season of NFL experience — as a defensive quality control coach with Jacksonville in 2000.

At 31 years, 8 months, Kiffin is even younger than Harland Svare, who took over the Los Angeles Rams in 1962 at 31 years, 11 months. Svare is listed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Web site as the youngest coach in the modern era, though younger coaches — including George Halas — led teams during the league's founding years.

Kiffin, a former Fresno State quarterback, replaces Art Shell who was fired after this 2-14 season.

COLTS

OWNER: MANNING'S BRUISED THUMB OK

Peyton Manning's injured right thumb gave the Colts a scare yesterday. Fortunately, for Indianapolis, that's all it was.

Manning bruised the thumb on his throwing hand late in the AFC championship game, but X-rays found no broken bones and he's expected to start against Chicago in the Super Bowl, Colts owner Jim Irsay told The Associated Press last night.

"There's no concerns with that at all," Irsay said. "He's fine."

Manning hit his thumb on the left tackle Tarik Glenn's helmet in the Colts' 38-34 victory over New England on Sunday night.

STEELERS

ROONEY DENIES MIXUP ON TOMLIN HIRING

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney strongly denied the team told assistant head coach Russ Grimm he would be Bill Cowher's successor, then changed its mind and hired Mike Tomlin, the former Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator.

Pittsburgh has offered Tomlin, 34, a four-year contract worth about $2.5 million annually.

Dan Rooney was upset with suggestions the Steelers offered the job to one person, rescinded it and hired someone else. He also denied anyone in the organization told Grimm he would be the coach.

"They were ... saying we were dishonest," Rooney said in an impromptu interview following Tomlin's news conference yesterday. "Our integrity means more than anything to us."

BENGALS

CB JOSEPH ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION

The Bengals' top draft pick is the first challenge to coach Marvin Lewis' new get-tough policy with his misbehaving players.

Cornerback Johnathan Joseph was arrested early yesterday and charged with possession of marijuana.

Joseph was the ninth Cincinnati player arrested in the last nine months, but the first since Lewis announced three weeks ago that he was taking a harder line on player misconduct.