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Rob Chudzinski, shown as offensive coordinator in 2007 talking to Browns players at the team's facility in Berea, will be interviewed for the Browns' head coaching opening, The Plain Dealer has learned.

(Photo by PD file)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' interviews of head coach candidates Wednesday included another of their former offensive coordinators, Rob Chudzinski, a source told The Plain Dealer, and Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, a source confirmed.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports first reported Zimmer's interview.

Chudzinski, 44, is the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator and the third former Browns OC to interview for the head coach job. Marc Trestman, the head coach of the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes, interviewed in Cleveland on Tuesday and Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is expected to interview in the next few days. Arians was released from a hospital Wednesday after being treated for an inner-ear infection and will begin his round of interviews Saturday.

Arians, 60, is also scheduled to meet with the Bears (Sunday), Chargers (Monday) and Eagles. He told the Indianapolis Star on Wednesday night that he was home and feeling fine. "I'm ready to get back at it," he said.

In other Browns coach search news:

•The Browns were likely one of several clubs that contacted former Steelers coach and Browns assistant Bill Cowher, who said Tuesday he wants to return to coaching someday, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. But Cowher has been telling teams he's happy where he's at right now -- living in New York and working as a CBS studio analyst.

•The Eagles interviewed Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, according to ESPN, and will visit with him again. The Browns, who competed against the Eagles for college coaches Chip Kelly, Bill O'Brien and Doug Marrone, have no plans to interview Kelly.

•Browns offensive coordinator Brad Childress interviewed in Kansas City for a spot on Andy Reid's staff. He was Reid's offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

If Chudzinski lands the Browns' job, it will mark his third stint with the club. A Toledo native and lifelong Browns fan, "Chud" joined coach Butch Davis as the Browns' tight end coach in 2004, and served as interim offensive coordinator the last five games of that season after Davis resigned. Chudzinski coached the Chargers' tight ends -- including All-Pro Antonio Gates -- in 2005 and 2006, before returning to Cleveland as offensive coordinator in 2007 under Romeo Crennel.

In his first year as Browns OC, Chudzinski helped the Browns to a 10-6 record and No. 8 ranking on offense. Four of his players went to the Pro Bowl: quarterback Derek Anderson, receiver Braylon Edwards, left tackle Joe Thomas and tight end Kellen Winslow. The next season, the Browns went 4-12 as the offense plummeted to 31st and Crennel was fired.

Chudzinski returned to San Diego and served as assistant head coach/tight ends coach in 2009-10. Last season, he was named the Panthers' offensive coordinator and guided rookie quarterback Cam Newton to tremendous success. Newton became the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in a season. The running game was equally effective as the Panthers became the first team in NFL history to have three players with 700 or more rushing yards in a season.

Last off-season, Chudzinski interviewed with the Jaguars, Rams and Buccaneers for their head coach vacancies.

Zimmer, 56, has long been respected as a coordinator, but has never been an NFL head coach. Last year, he interviewed for jobs with the Dolphins and Buccaneers, but received no offers and ultimately signed an extension with the Bengals.

Being overlooked has been a source of frustration for him.

"Honestly, I don't listen to that stuff anymore," Zimmer told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Honest to God's truth. I've had for so many years have people say, 'This is your year.' Then at the end of the year for about three days I'm totally depressed because I see this guy get a job, that guy get a job, that guy get a job. So it's in my best interest not to think about it, talk about it and just try to do the best job I can because I'm like (everybody else), I get disappointed, too."

Zimmer, Bengals coordinator since 2008, said: "I always have a chip on my shoulder. When don't I?"

Zimmer, who has also been a coordinator for the Cowboys (2000-06) and Atlanta Falcons (2007), led the Bengals to a No. 6 ranking this year and the team had 51 sacks, third most in the league. He was the second defensive coach known to have interviewed with the Browns. The first was Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.