Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak is scheduled to interview with the Detroit Lions about their head-coaching vacancy, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder.
San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt remains the front-runner to be the next coach of the Lions, who fired Jim Schwartz last week following a 7-9 season.
In order to accommodate an interview with Whisenhunt, the Lions were interviewing Munchak on Wednesday instead of Friday, as previously planned, league sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. The specifics of Whisenhunt's interview have not been revealed, but two league sources said Thursday night is the most likely window in which the sides will meet.
The Chargers are in the midst of preparations for their divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The familiarity between the teams in part allows for Whisenhunt to make himself available to interview with some restrictions defined by the Chargers.
Munchak was fired Saturday after his third season with the Titans, who also went 7-9. A Hall of Fame offensive lineman, Munchak spent 31 years as either a player or a coach with the Titans franchise.
Munchak will be accompanied at the Lions interview by former Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, sources told Werder.
Former Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak was interviewed by the team Tuesday, a source confirmed to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Loggains also is scheduled to interview Wednesday with the New York Giants for their offensive coordinator job and is being sought by other NFL head-coaching candidates who want to include him as part of their projected staffs.
League sources told ESPN that Munchak declined the Titans' offer of a multiyear contract extension contingent on more than a dozen firings and demotions on his coaching staff.
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco will allow Whisenhunt to interview with interested teams this week, sources told Werder. Telesco and the Chargers will have some control over when and where Whisenhunt's interviews occur, according to sources.
Munchak, 53, already has interviewed for the coaching vacancy at his alma mater, Penn State, a source told ESPN.
Despite having a talented roster that includes Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush and Ndamukong Suh, the Lions faded down the stretch this season, losing six of their last seven games to miss the playoffs.
ESPN Senior NFL Insider Chris Mortensen contributed to this report.