Jacksonville Jaguars to interview former Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith for HC

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith could return to head coaching if he is picked as the next man to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Smith, 57, will interview for the Jaguars' gig, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The move is somewhat surprising for a coach that was on the hot seat earlier this season, according to the Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds. The Buccaneers allowed the sixth-most yards per game in the NFC this season and also had the most penalty yards in the conference.

Even so, Smith does hold a 66-46 record as an NFL head coach. He won at least 10 games in four of seven seasons while coaching the Atlanta Falcons from 2008 to 2014. He owns a 1-4 record in the playoffs.

Before joining the Falcons, Smith was the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars from 2003 to 2007 under Jack Del Rio.

The Jaguars fired former coach Gus Bradley on Dec. 18 after he posted a 14-48 record during his four-year tenure. Josh McDaniels, Kyle Shanahan, and Tom Coughlin are other big-name options rumored to be candidates for the Jaguars job.