"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to have a renewed interest in hiring a rookie head coach.

After focusing primarily on candidates with prior NFL head coaching experience, the Bucs were preparing Friday to interview Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, a source with knowledge of the search confirmed.

Neither Zimmer nor Chudzinski has been a head coach before.

It is not known when the interviews will be held.

Zimmer, 55, and Chudzinski, 49, join a list of candidates that includes unemployed former head coaches Mike Sherman, Brad Childress and Marty Schottenheimer, as well as Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray.

Gray has never been a head coach.

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, however, took time from preparations for today's playoff game against San Francisco to endorse Gray. Williams, who hired Gray 14 years ago as a quality control coach, said Gray is ready to be a head coach and would be a good fit with the Bucs.

"I have zero reservations about Jerry Gray,'' said Williams, a 21-year NFL coaching veteran who served as head coach of the Buffalo Bills and defensive coordinator with four teams. "He's ready."

Zimmer interviewed for one other head coaching job, the Dolphins, after Miami realized Jeff Fisher was leaning toward taking the Rams' job, which he did on Friday. Chudzinski interviewed for two head coaching positions this year: the Rams and the Jaguars, who chose Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey."