Tampa Bay Buccaneers Receive Permission To Interview Mike Zimmer

by Josh Kirkendall on Jan 13, 2012 11:58 AM EST in Coaching News

Word surfaced earlier this week that Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was considered a candidate for Tampa Bay's vacant head coaching position. Though we're still waiting on the Jeff Fisher to make a decision that may land Zimmer in Miami if Fisher chooses St. Louis, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have received permission to interview Zimmer, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Wade Phillips, one of the early candidates for the job recently told Tampa Bay that he "was pulling out of the process." According to SB Nation's own Bucs Nation, Zimmer is "just the latest name in a long list of coaches the Bucs have interviewed", though Zimmer is the second without any head coaching experience.

If Zimmer returns to Cincinnati to coordinate the Bengals defense, it will be his fifth season with the team as he enters the final year under contract. If he doesn't return then the early candidates to replace him range from defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle to former Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio.

According to NFL Network Insider Jason La Canfora, Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski will also speak with the Buccaneers.

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Young team that lacked motivation

Might be a good spot for Zimmer. He’s used to an owner who doesn’t want to spend money.

by Jcon77 on Jan 13, 2012 12:04 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

I really like Zimmer

and think he is a heck of a coach. I definitely will wish him the best of luck as a HC, as long as it is not an AFC North team. Cincy’s D has made some tremendous strides under his tutelage.

That being said, I think the team can weather his loss and the impact if he moves on won’t be as tremendous as what it appears the consensus thinks.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Jan 13, 2012 12:11 PM EST reply actions

Not to disrespect Zim

who I think will be a helluva a HC, but these stories don’t sound credible, instead it sounds like Zimmer’s agent doing the talking. Teams hire coaches without alot of leaks and back and forth in the media. Boom, its done and announced.
Besides whats the story with Fisher? If it takes this long for him to impersonate Hamlet, how long will it take him to hire a staff? Again I think there is less interest in Fisher than the media is suggesting.

by BENGALS69 on Jan 13, 2012 12:15 PM EST reply actions

Maybe we should go ahead and start interviewing DC's

It might get us ahead of other teams trying to fill their staff and it might get Zim to stay put for another year. Then again it could backfire in our faces.

by Bigcatdaddy on Jan 13, 2012 12:20 PM EST via Android app reply actions

Jack Del Rio come on down!

by sofakingood on Jan 13, 2012 12:28 PM EST reply actions

I think Zimmer is a good coach

But I also think he’s probably gone as far as he can with this group.

by sgiridharan1982 on Jan 13, 2012 12:31 PM EST reply actions

Sorry I meant to say

“great” coach

by sgiridharan1982 on Jan 13, 2012 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

Zimm's given us top ten Defenses consistently

lets not forget the Bresnehan days….I hope we dont lose Zimm

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 13, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

True

But his “nobody” wanted you tactics are seeing the end of its days. At one time Brat was a coordinator that fielded a top 10 offense. Then the regression took place. I’m afraid that’s going to happen.

by sgiridharan1982 on Jan 13, 2012 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

Because his players love him.......

My fear is that our defensive free agents will follow him to his new team.

by tabby on Jan 13, 2012 12:45 PM EST reply actions

+1 he will get a few of them to go with him where ever that may be

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Jan 13, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

who is guys?

Crocker, Peko, Geathers and Nelson? Wouldn’t cry bout none of them leaving. Were a top. #10 in stats because our offense wasn’t good. We were coming from behind every game so by 4th teams were running. The last 10 games how many games did we win were qb threw the ball more than 30 times? Sorry but games we did win we were playing against teams 2 or 3 qbs, rb, Wr. Check the stats. We got man handled by any real offense. So please stop it with rankings.

by pray4gm11 on Jan 13, 2012 1:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Please stop it with the nonsense

by Oregonbengalsfan on Jan 13, 2012 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

Bengals D came up big

and gave us the chance to win several games this year.

Offensives are gonna score.. thats what they get paid to do.

by Bengalsfan024 on Jan 13, 2012 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

Our defense kept us in every game but one.

I think saying we got man handled is over the top. For these past couple of years, I have never once thought at the end of a game that our D couldn’t stop someone. Now, it is the NFL, and players make plays, it happens, it’s the nature of the game. But it’s been a long time since we have had a defense that really makes people take notice.

by Ben-GAL on Jan 13, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

My guess

I honestly think Zimmer will get one of the two job openings. My guess is Miami — if Fisher doesn’t take it.
It’s just a matter of time anyway and with Del Rio out of a job now might be the best time for it to happen.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990

by Yarin on Jan 13, 2012 12:58 PM EST reply actions

I'd still like Zimmer as the Bengals HC.

but the rookies saved marvins butt this year

by Bengalsfan024 on Jan 13, 2012 1:02 PM EST reply actions

+1

by keithster on Jan 13, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

Fisher to the Rams...

by Oregonbengalsfan on Jan 13, 2012 2:13 PM EST reply actions

I wanna see jack del rio

If Zimm leaves no excuses get him in the fold

AD to AJ = TD!!

by Toasted_Orange_Monster on Jan 13, 2012 3:12 PM EST via mobile reply actions

So the word earlier this week was

Zim was the “top of the list” for the Fins. So I guess today we’ll get an announcement of Zimmer as the next HC?
Well maybe not, its 4:53pm in DolphinTown and no word….maybe Zimmer isn’t a candidate? I’m thinking we’ll have Zimmer one more year.

by BENGALS69 on Jan 13, 2012 4:54 PM EST reply actions

they are re-interviewing

Dave Toub per their fan blog http://www.thephinsider.com/2012/1/13/2705607/hearing-the-mystery-interview-on-saturday-is-dave-toub-for-a-second#comments

personally

I don’t want to see Marvin fired, I want him to be promoted to G.M. while handing the reigns over to Zimmer as head coach and hiring Jack Del Rio as Defensive Coordinator. Who Dey!!!

by joeb69 on Jan 9, 2012 8:18 PM EST replyactions 2 recs

by joeb69 on Jan 13, 2012 4:57 PM EST reply actions