Team already has its eyes on 4 candidates

The Miami Dolphins aren’t wasting time in their coaching search.

Hours after owner Steve Ross fired coach Adam Gase and replaced Mike Tannenbaum with Chris Grier as the top football executive, the team requested and received permission to interview at least five NFL assistants.

According to multiple reports, the Dolphins and Denver Broncos requested permission to interview Vic Fangio, the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets requested permission to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who is credited with being the play-caller during quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ breakout season.

And ESPN reported that the Dolphins requested permission to interview New England Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak, who is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line coach, and Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Kris Richards.

Flores is expected to also interview with the Cleveland Browns and Broncos, and Munchak reportedly will talk to the Broncos. So other teams are in the mix for all of the candidates the Dolphins have expressed early interest in.

Bieniemy, Flores and Richards interviews would allow the Dolphins to satisfy the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview one minority candidate for head-coaching vacancies. Bieniemy, Flores and Richards are both black.

Flores has been with the Patriots since 2004 when he joined the franchise as a scouting assistant. He served as a position coach for

several years before becoming defensive coordinator this season after Matt Patricia left to become the coach of the Detroit Lions.

Flores defense finished seventh in the NFL in points allowed (325), and 21st in yards allowed per game (359.1).

Richards, a former NFL cornerback who spent one season with the Dolphins (2005), spent three seasons as the Seahawks defensive coordinator before becoming the defensive backs coach with

the Cowboys. Dallas possesses the NFL’s seventh-stingiest defense. However, the Cowboys allowed the 10th-highest passer rating in the NFL (95.7) this season and pulled down only nine interceptions. Richards interviewed for the Colts job last year.

Bieniemy would be just the latest in a long line of head coaches who have been groomed by former Philadelphia Eagles and current Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, joining Eagles coach Doug Pederson, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Bears coach Matt Nagy.

While 2018 was his first season

as an offensive coordinator in the NFL, the former NFL tailback has worked his way up the coaching ranks for the past decade.

Munchak, a former offensive lineman who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001, was 22-26 in his three seasons with the Titans. He’s been with the Steelers since 2014 and has helped Pittsburgh forge an offensive identity.

Fangio, 60, previously interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers top job in 2015 prior to them selecting Jim Tomsula. Fangio joined John Fox's staff in Chicago and the 32-year NFL coaching veteran was held over when Fox was

fired at the end of last season. Fangio has been a defensive coordinator six times in college and the NFL, but has never been given an opportunity as a head coach.

It is possible that other coaches will get in the mix for Miami’s vacancy, but the Dolphins must interview Bieniemy, Flores and Fangio this week while their playoff teams have a bye.

The Dolphins can’t officially hire any assistant coach whose team has reached the postseason until their season has been concluded.