Tweet
Dennis Green is up for several coaching jobs around the NFL.
Dennis Green has interviewed with the Oakland Raiders for the team's head coaching vacancy.
Green spent Monday afternoon with owner Al Davis and appears to be the leading candidate to replace Bill Callahan, fired last week after his second season.
The 54-year-old Green also has interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins. He has coached the Minnesota Vikings and Stanford.
"I think Al Davis is going to hire the guy who he feels gives the Raiders the greatest chance to be Super Bowl champions," Green told The (San Jose) Mercury News. "I would not be here if I didn't think I could do that."
A message left for Green on Tuesday was not immediately returned.
Davis also had a lengthy telephone interview Friday with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders, who initially indicated he wasn't interested in the job.
"I think the Raiders need to get a coach that wants the same thing that Mr. Davis wants, and that is a Super Bowl championship," linebacker Eric Barton said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Mr. Davis is relentless in winning a title and that's how anyone in this profession should be."
The Raiders expressed interest in Green in 1998 when there was speculation he might be fired by the Vikings.
If Davis hires Green, the two will have to find a middle ground on how to run this suddenly fragile franchise. Davis likes to have all the power, but Green also wants to be in charge.
Before coaching the Vikings, Green spent six seasons in the Bay area, three as 49ers receivers coach under Bill Walsh, and three as Stanford head coach. Walsh has already given Green his backing.
Davis might have to fill some other key jobs, too. Senior assistant Bruce Allen is reportedly close to leaving to become general manager with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and might take Mike Lombardi, director of player personnel, with him.
Source: AP