NFL coaching rumors: Jay Gruden adds Chargers to interview schedule

This week, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden has been picking up steam as a head coaching candidate. With the top three NCAA coaches electing to return to their schools -- Brian Kelly (Notre Dame), Chip Kelly (Oregon) and Bill O'Brien (Penn State) -- the market has narrowed for teams that have vacancies at HC.

Source tells me #Chargers will interview #Bengals OC Jay Gruden today. He'd also talked with #Cardinals. Will talk with #Eagles, #Jaguars

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 13, 2013

The Eagles, Jaguars and Chargers are three main teams hot on the trail for a new head coach. However, many of the desirable candidates are either not interested or preoccupied with the postseason.

This has led to the Bengals OC, brother of Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, to climb to the top of some teams' lists this week. The Chargers would be an interesting landing spot, but after hiring former Colts personnel executive Tom Telesco as their GM, one would have to think that Bruce Arians is the favorite.

Meanwhile, a lot of folks out there believe the Jaguars are waiting on San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman. After being bottom-dwellers in the league for some time, the Niners' offense is one of the hottest, most intriguing stories in the NFL this year.

And unfortunately for the Cardinals and Eagles, they can't seem to give away the head coaching position. Neither team hesitated to drop their coaches, but as time passed, it didn't seem that they had a lock on any suitable replacements. As an offensive-minded coach, Gruden could very well land with the Cardinals or Eagles, who are both leaning in that direction.

The Cleveland Browns are also rebuilding, but landed their guy before any of the aforementioned teams. The new lead man in Ohio, Rob Chudzinski, was more of an under-the-radar hire, but it doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad one. Under his watch, the team has already been hard at work, trying to construct an ideal coaching staff to utilize the talent already on the roster.

After being released by San Diego, former head coach Norv Turner will look to join Cleveland's staff, resuming his duties as an offensive coordinator. They've also done some self-evaluation, and have been hard-pressed to retain some of the staff already in place.

Six teams - OAK, KC, DET, CHI, CAR, IND - have asked to interview Browns ST coach Chris Tabor and Cleveland has denied permission on Tabor.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2013

Even though the postseason is hot right now, only four teams will remain after this weekend. Which ultimately means that 28 other organizations are already thinking about next season. The coaching carousel should continue to go round and round, but much like the NFL season, it's operating at an up-tempo.