He left the station in 2006 after 21 years to run the John T. Petters Foundation, started by Tom Petters, the Wayzata businessman convicted last month of fraud.

"I missed it," said Schmit, who will be back on the air Jan. 14. "It's great coming back to the greatest job I ever had."

Schmit said news director Lindsay Radford brought up the idea about a month ago during lunch; he signed the contract Thursday morning.

Schmit, who was diagnosed with lymphoma two years ago, said he feels "healthy as a horse," but added that safeguards are built into the job in case the disease takes a turn for the worse.

His predecessor, Phil Aldridge, will move to weekends until he leaves the station in July, Radford said. Helping Schmit out will be newly hired Chris Long, who previously worked in Duluth and is currently in Fort Myers, Fla.

Schmit said his "Sports Wrap Up" show will also return, starting next Sunday, just in time to analyze the Vikings playoff game.

"I did one better than Brett Favre," he said. "I not only missed training camp, I missed the whole season and get to jump on the bandwagon at the end."