NFL rumors: Jay Gruden, Mike Zimmer on Redskins' radar

The Redskins continue to be extremely active in their search for Mike Shanahan's replacement. Here's a rundown of the recent rumors for all five teams still looking for a new head coach.

By Jeff Gray@Jeff_GraySBN Jan 6, 2014, 12:57pm EST

The Washington Redskins continue their expansive search for Mike Shanahan's replacement and are hoping to interview Cincinnati Bengals coordinators Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin.

The Redskins have requested permission to interview Zimmer and Gruden, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post. Zimmer has served as the defensive coordinator for the Bengals since 2008, and previously led defenses in Dallas and Atlanta. Gruden, the brother of Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, has been the team's offensive coordinator since 2011.

Washington has also requested to sit down with Roman, according to Albert Breer of NFL Media.

NFL regulations prevent teams from contacting assistants whose teams play during Wild Card week, meaning the Redskins have had to wait on Zimmer, Gruden and Roman to complete their respective first-round playoff games.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media is reporting that the Redskins also plan on meeting with Franklin this week. Franklin led Vanderbilt to a win over Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl over the weekend, securing his second consecutive nine-win season at historically weak Vanderbilt.

UPDATE: The Redskins have requested permission to interview 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Cleveland Browns

Reports have been running rampant all week about Cleveland's interest in Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, but that rumor appears to be officially dead. Pat McManamon of ESPN reported Monday that a team source confirmed the Browns never had interest in Stoops.

The team is interested in another college coach, however, as it has requested an interview with Vanderbilt's Franklin. That sitdown is expected this week.

So far, the Browns have met with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Detroit Lions

On Sunday Schefter reported that the Lions' head coaching job was Ken Whisenhunt's to lose. Whisenhunt, currently the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, is a former Redskins teammate of Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, and that relationship has reportedly given him an inside track.

The Lions met with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell on Friday and have requested to speak with Cincinnati's Gruden.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have interviews lined up with the Cardinals' Bowles and Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton, but are in no particular rush to make a hiring decision, according to general manager Rick Spielman.

We don't have 'a guy.' I think there's a lot of potential candidates out there. I don't think everybody needs to panic [and say], 'This team already hired a guy. This team already hired a guy. What are the Vikings doing?' We are going to go through our process and do our due diligence and I think there is enough to potential candidates out there that we will be able to get the guy that we want.

The team has also requested interviews with a pair of offensive coordinators in the 49ers' Roman and the Bengals' Gruden.

UPDATE: The Vikings have requested an interview with 49ers' offensive coordinator Greg Roman, according to Schefter.

Tennessee Titans

Along with most of the other teams hunting for a coach, the Titans are showing interest in Gruden and Zimmer. They have officially requested an interview with Gruden.

According to Rapoport, the team is also interested in Whisenhunt.

Meanwhile, freshly fired former Titans coach Mike Munchak is among the final candidates for the head job at Penn State. He interviewed with the school on Sunday, and the decision is reportedly between him and Vanderbilt's Franklin.