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Mike Singletary among coaching candidates on Fritz Pollard Alliance list

Jarrett Bell
USA TODAY Sports
Former San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary is among the NFL coaching candidates included on Fritz Pollard Alliance list.

Throw Mike Singletary's name into the ring as the NFL coaching carousel begins to spin.

The Hall of Fame linebacker, currently working for the NFL, is on the list of nine head coaching candidates that the Fritz Pollard Alliance (FPA) submitted to the league this week with the purpose of circulating teams that may soon look to make a change, a person with knowledge of the contents of the list told USA TODAY Sports.

The person did not want to be identified because the list has not been publicly announced.

Singletary, 56, is a senior advisor to NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent, consulting on a variety of football matters. He is an interesting name because of his previous stint as coach crash-landed. He compiled an 18-22 record with the San Francisco 49ers over two full seasons and nine games as an interim coach.

He was dumped by the 49ers following a 5-10 season in 2010, with his tenure perhaps best remembered for his fiery postgame explanation of why he sent Vernon Davis to the locker room during a game in 2008, after the Pro Bowl tight end drew a silly unnecessary roughness penalty.

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A flashback:

"I'd rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we have to do something else, rather than play with 11 when I know right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team," Singletary said following a blowout loss to the Seahawks at Candlestick Park in October 2008.

"It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them, cannot win with them. Can't do it. I want winners."

Davis has said on several occasions since then that he appreciated Singletary's candor and approach.

Now it will be intriguing to see whether an NFL team looking for a coach is drawn to Singletary.

It will be natural for Singletary's name to surface if the Chicago Bears oust Marc Trestman, given the former linebacker's history with the franchise. Singletary was the heartbeat of the great defense that led the Bears to their only Super Bowl title after the 1985 season.

Singletary, according to the person with knowledge of his thinking, has already formulated plans for an offensive staff.

The FPA, an organization established to monitor and promote minority hiring, has provided lists of candidates to the NFL for several years. Teams must interview at least one minority candidate to comply with the Rooney Rule, and the list is designed to expose teams to candidates who might not be on the radar.

Others being pushed by the FPA, in no particular order:

* Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

* Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.

* Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

* Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.

* Stanford coach David Shaw.

* Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin.

* Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

* Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

Wildly successful in his first year as Lions coordinator, Austin told The Detroit Free Press that he is flattered to be on FPA's list, but is focused on Sunday's game at Chicago. The Lions can win the NFC North title with victories in their final two games at Chicago and Green Bay.

Austin also indicated that he would indeed accept interviews.

"Absolutely, I think you would," Austin told The Free Press. "But right now that's not what I'm thinking about."

Conversely, it seems doubtful that either of the two college coaches on the list, Shaw and Sumlin, will seek an NFL job at this time. Both were on the FPA list last year, but withdrew their names from consideration.

Sumlin's contract is tied to the construction of a new stadium at Texas A&M, with a $5 million buyout clause.

Shaw, who has previously worked at the NFL level, indicated last year that he was committed to remaining at Stanford.

The FPA doesn't have the only list that will be circulated to teams. Another person with knowledge of the league's inner workings told USA TODAY Sports that a broader list of candidates available to teams includes Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and UCLA coach Jim Mora, Jr.

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Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell

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