Ortmayer Is Latest Addition to Raiders : Football: Former Charger general manager returns to L.A. to work in football operations and help coach special teams.

Steve Ortmayer, fired as general manager of the San Diego Chargers in December, rejoined the Raiders to work in football operations and coach the special teams, the club announced Tuesday.

Ortmayer spent nine seasons with the Raiders as director of football operations and special teams coach before he left to become San Diego’s director of football operations in January of 1987. The Chargers floundered under Ortmayer, compiling a 19-27 record in his three-year tenure.

Although he drafted well, selecting wide receiver Anthony Miller and quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver, Ortmayer made several questionable trades, acquiring quarterback Jim McMahon from Chicago and linebacker Chip Banks from Cleveland.

McMahon lost his job to Tolliver and Banks was arrested four times on drug charges before he was traded to Indianapolis.

But his worst deal may have been sending offensive tackle Jim Lachey to the Raiders for running back Napoleon McCallum and offensive lineman John Clay. McCallum was waived in training camp and Clay has been sidelined with a neck injury. Lachey was traded to the Washington Redskins in the Jay Schroeder deal.

Still, Ortmayer said: “We’re very proud of the job we did with the Chargers. That’s an outstanding young team and a team that has an opportunity in the near future to be very good.”

Ortmayer was told by Charger owner Alex Spanos that he would not be offered a new contract on Dec. 18. Although Ortmayer was unsuccessful in San Diego, the Raiders were successful while he was with them. They made the playoffs five times in his tenure, and won the Super Bowl twice. The right-hand man to owner Al Davis, Ortmayer also coached the special teams.

“We’re glad to have Steve Ortmayer back with the Raiders,” Coach Art Shell said.

Ortmayer called his hiring “a very fortunate opportunity at this point (to work) with a new head coach who represents the greatness of the Raiders.”