SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin agreed Wednesday to interview for the San Francisco 49ers' vacant head coaching position.

Kiffin, the architect of the NFL's stingiest defense for the Super Bowl champions, spoke by phone with San Francisco general manager Terry Donahue. Kiffin will fly to California for an interview Friday or Saturday, a team spokesman said.

The 49ers, who fired Steve Mariucci two weeks ago, sought permission to interview Kiffin almost immediately after the Buccaneers' Super Bowl victory over Oakland. Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay granted permission, and Kiffin apparently was intrigued enough by Donahue's pitch to pursue it further.

The 62-year-old Kiffin has expressed interest in becoming a head coach in the past, but many close to the coach, including Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, wondered whether Kiffin would be interested in leaving a comfortable situation with the Buccaneers to start a new challenge.

Last fall, he signed a two-year contract extension with Tampa Bay worth about $2 million, making him one of the league's highest-paid assistants. Kiffin couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The 49ers have spoken to four NFL defensive coordinators so far in their search: New England's Romeo Crennel, Philadelphia's Jim Johnson, Ted Cottrell of the New York Jets and San Francisco's Jim Mora.

San Francisco went 10-6 last season, winning the NFC West and reaching the second round of the playoffs. Three days after Kiffin's defense held the 49ers without a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 31-6 playoff victory, owner John York fired Mariucci.