NFL Rumors: Packers Want To Interview Patriots' Josh McDaniels, Brian Flores

The Green Bay Packers are continuing to step up their hunt for a new full-time head coach, and the New England Patriots could be their source.

According to Jim McBride of the Boston Globe, the Packers, who are currently headed by interim coach Joe Philbin following the sacking of Mike McCarthy earlier this month, will be requesting permission to interview Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

McDaniels is in his eighth season as offensive coordinator for New England and does have experience as a head coach during his short tenure with the Denver Broncos from 2009 to 2010.

In addition, he has interviewed with a number of teams over the years for a head coach role including the likes of the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts.

Meanwhile, Flores became the new defensive coordinator for the Patriots this season following the departure of Matt Patricia to the Detroit Lions. He was previously the linebackers coach.

There are other options for Green Bay as well, as according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Philbin is surprisingly getting a head coach interview, though he is unlikely to receive the job.

Rapoport adds that they are also expected to target Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, notably hired by Packers president Mark Murphy during the latter's time there as athletic director from 2003 to 2007.

The Chicago Tribune reports "no interview has been scheduled" as of yet, while Fitzgerald has refused to comment on the rumors.

Rapoport also followed up on McBride's report, stating that McDaniels, who has a relationship with Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, "is open to the right job, would be another possible candidate here."

The Packers have already interviewed Jim Caldwell and Chuck Pagano earlier this week, according to Rapoport, and are expected to interview as many as a dozen candidates for the role.

"Jim Caldwell, the former Colts coach and also Lions coach, whose tenure looks much better in retrospect, has interviewed, sources say, for the Green Bay Packers open job," Rapoport said on GMFB. "This is the first known interview for the Green Bay Packers and shortly after that, we found out the second — Chuck Pagano. Another former Colts coach actually. Also interviewed for the Packers head coaching job."

"That is two, the only two known head coach interviews for a team that by the way, does not have a full-time head coach, Joe Philbin being the interim. So they are allowed to interview. Now the Packers are going to interview a ton of guys, maybe 10, maybe 12. They are merely getting a jump on it but obviously two notable names to start," he added.

The Packers ended a forgettable season on a bad note, losing 31-0 to the Lions at Lambeau Field on Sunday, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffering a concussion during the game.