Associated Press

Mora next to interview for Redskins coaching position

ASHBURN, Va. -- Seattle Seahawks defensive backs coach Jim Mora will interview for the Washington Redskins' coaching job Wednesday. "I think he is an excellent football coach," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said Tuesday from Seahawks headquarters in Kirkland, Wash. "He is a great communicator. He has great enthusiasm. The players respect him -- that's all good."

Mora is among five known candidates to replace Joe Gibbs, who resigned last week. He's seeking his second head coaching job, having gone 27-23 over three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, including an appearance in the NFC championship, before he was fired a year ago.

"He and I have talked a lot about Atlanta," Holmgren said. "What he thought happened in Atlanta, what I thought happened in Atlanta. And, if you remember what happened the first time around, you should be better."

Redskins assistant Gregg Williams, the leading in-house candidate, has had three interviews of varying formality with Redskins owner Dan Snyder, and Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and at least one other candidate met with Snyder last week.

Interviews have also been planned for Indianapolis Colts assistants Jim Caldwell and Ron Meeks, either of whom would satisfy the Redskins' obligations under the "Rooney Rule" that requires teams to speak to at least one minority candidate.

Mora, Caldwell and Meeks all became available for interviews this week after their teams were eliminated from the playoffs.

Mora is the son of retired coach Jim E. Mora, who led the USFL's Philadelphia-Baltimore Stars and the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. The two Moras share the same first name, but not the same middle name.