Chiefs Deny Redskins Permission to Interview LB Coach Gary Gibbs

The Washington Redskins have been denied permission to interview candidates for their vacant defensive coordinator's job almost as frequently as permission has been granted.  ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Kansas City Chiefs have denied permission for the Redskins to interview their linebackers coach Gary Gibbs.  Gibbs has been with the Chiefs since 2009.  He served as the defensive coordinator at the end of the 2012 season when head coach Romeo Crennel gave up his DC duties. Romeo Crennel was fired following the season, but Gibbs was retained, and returned to his position as linebackers coach.

San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio was the first candidate the Redskins were denied permission to interview.  The 49ers head coach position is open after they parted ways with Jim Harbaugh, and Fangio has interviewed for the position.  Jim Schwartz was the other defensive coordinator candidate that the Redskins attempted to interview, but were denied by the team.  Schwartz recently interviewed for the vacant Buffalo Bills head coaching job.  Doug Marrone opted out of his contract with the Bills, and they are not letting Schwartz go until they have their head coaching job locked down.

The Redskins have reportedly already interviewed San Diego Chargers linebackers coach Joe Barry over the last few days.  San Francisco 49ers DB coach Ed Donatell was scheduled to interview with the team today.  The candidate who is rumored to be the frontrunner, Wade Phillips, is scheduled to interview with the team tomorrow.  With the Redskins hiring new GM Scot McCloughan, the process might take a little longer than originally expected, and the team is reportedly open to either the 3-4 or 4-3.

Chiefs denied permission to Redskins to interview Gary Gibbs for their DC job, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2015

[UPDATE: 1/8/15 10:30 PM] The Chiefs denied permission because Gary Gibbs did not want the job

A team source confirms Gary Gibbs will not be interviewing with Washington, but says #Chiefs did not block interview, he turned it down.

— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) January 7, 2015