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Bucs to interview Bengals DC, Panthers OC for head coach spot

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been granted permission to interview two up-and-coming assistant coaches, according to league sources.

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The Bucs are set to interview Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer for the team's vacant head coaching position and also have been granted permission to interview Carolina Panthers first-year offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinksi.

The interview with Zimmer is set for Monday, according to a league source.

The Zimmer-led Bengals posted the league's No. 7 defense this past season and rode the unit's success to a wild-card berth. The Bucs twice witnessed the difference Chudzinski has made in Carolina in his first season there, as the Panthers hung up a combined 86 points in two wins over the Bucs this season.

A source with knowledge of the situation said Thursday that Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has pulled his name out of contention for the Bucs' head coaching spot.

Follow Jason La Canfora on Twitter @JasonLaCanfora.