Buffalo Bills Interested In Ken Whisenhunt As Head Coach, Per Report

Add another name to the Buffalo Bills' head coaching search: Tim Graham of The Buffalo News reports that Russ Brandon, now in charge of the organization, is interested in pursuing Ken Whisenhunt as the replacement for the fired Chan Gailey. WGR 550's Howard Simon adds on, reporting that the Bills will fly to Arizona as soon as Wednesday to conduct an interview of Whisenhunt (plus as many as two other candidates).

Whisenhunt, 50, was fired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. In six years on the job, Whisenhunt's Cardinals went 45-51, but made two playoff appearances - including a run to the Super Bowl in 2008 - in his first three seasons on the job. After quarterback Kurt Warner retired following the 2009 season, the Cardinals slipped to 18-30 over three years as Whisenhunt and GM Rod Graves struggled to find a new signal caller.

Prior to his head coaching stint in Arizona, Whisenhunt spent six seasons as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was part of an organization that also included current Bills Assistant GM (and GM in waiting) Doug Whaley. Whisenhunt spent three years coaching tight ends before earning a promotion to offensive coordinator; he also called plays in Arizona.

Whisenhunt joins two other solid coaching leads in Doug Marrone and Ray Horton. Marrone is currently the head coach at Syracuse University, while Horton - another coach with Pittsburgh ties - was Whisenhunt's defensive coordinator in Arizona. Former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith has also expressed interest in the Bills' coaching vacancy, but it's not clear if the Bills have interest in Smith. Russ Grimm, Whisenhunt's assistant head coach and offensive line coach - and another guy with Pittsburgh ties - has also been linked to the job, as well.