Eric Mangini to again interview for Raiders, this time for Defensive Coordinator

San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach, Eric Mangini, will be making his second trip across the bay to interview for the Raiders. His first interview was while the Raiders were looking at head coaches. This time it will be for the Defensive Coordinator position according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.

For those of you wondering why a tight ends coach would be interviewing for Defensive Coordinator, Mangini was once very highly regarded as a defensive mind in the NFL. Even though the former Patriots Defensive Backs coach only ever held the title of Defensive Coordinator one season in his career (2005).

After that one season as a DC, he was hired as head coach of the New York Jets where he spent three seasons and then spent two seasons as head coach of the Browns. He was out of football for two seasons after that before re-emerging as tight ends coach in San Francisco.

It always seemed possible when the Raiders were interviewing him before as a head coach that they could consider him as a DC as well. Even getting an interview at all seemed odd in the first place.

The Raiders have been been linked to several other more high profile potential Defensive Coordinators such as former Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith, who coached under Del Rio in Jacksonville, and former 49ers Defensive Coordinator, Vic Fangio. Though neither have reportedly held an interview.

Regardless, the Raiders seem to be casting a wide net just as they did in their search for a head coach. Mangini isn't their first choice, and he may not be an exciting choice, but they can't all inspire awe when constructing an entire new staff from scratch.

Follow @LeviDamien