According to the Houston Chronicle's John McClain, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have obtained the Houston Texans' permission to interview defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for the position of head coach. The interview must take place this week or in the week prior to the Super Bowl per NFL rules for playoff teams. According to McClain the interview will take place on Friday. "I'm gratified somebody noticed. I don't want to leave Houston but I want to be a head coach" Phillips told McClain.
Wade Phillips has extensive experience as a head coach, having led teams on five different occasions. Twice he finished the year as an interim head coach: with New Orleans in 1985 and with Atlanta in 2003. He served as the head coach for the Denver Broncos from 1993 to 1994 and led the Buffalo Bills from 1998 to 2000. Most recently he was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2007 to 2010, but he was fired mid-season last year after a 1-7 start. Under-performing players and a lack of discipline seemed to be at the basis of that move.
Wade Phillips has a 82-59 record as a head coach, but has only managed to win one playoff game in nine years as a head coach. Phillips is seen as a defensive guru, who managed to turn one of the worst defenses in the NFL into a one of the best this season with the Houston Texans. He generally runs a 3-4, but his version of a 3-4 is very similar to a 4-3, and his is a scheme I noted last year the Bucs could move to and certainly have the personnel to play unlike most 3-4 defenses.
The fact that the Bucs will interview both Brad Childress and Wade Phillips this week (likely in addition to other coaches) would seem to contradict an NFL.com report that the Bucs are on the verge of hiring Mike Sherman.