Jeff Fisher is a candidate for the open Montana State job, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicleand Skyline Sports.
The former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams coach has not patrolled a sideline since 2016, but his name has hovered around openings in the years since.
Now, both outlets report he is a candidate for the position that sprung open when Jeff Choate left to become the co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Texas.
Adding to the intrigue, Fisher tweeted a photo from high-above a snow-covered city on Saturday, which was later identified as Bozeman.
Fisher has never coached at the college level. The former USC defensive back played five seasons for the Chicago Bears, then immediately went into coaching with Da Bears following a career-ending injury. The 62-year-old remained at the NFL level for the duration of his three-decade career.
Though he has no direct connection to the school, his son Brandon Fisher played at Montana and spent 2019 as the defensive coordinator at Southern Utah.
Fisher faces stiffer-than-expected competition for an FCS job that pays just over $200,000 per year guaranteed. The Daily Chronicle reports Nebraska offensive coordinator Matt Lubick, former Oregon State/Nebraska head coach Mike Riley, and Oklahoma State running backs/tight ends coach Jason McEndoo are also persons of interest in the search.
McEndoo spent 2003-14 as Montana State's offensive line coach, and Lubick was raised in Bozeman as the son of longtime Bobcats assistant and head coach Sonny Lubick.
Both would need to take pay cuts to take the Montana State job. Lubick made $500,000 in 2020, while McEndoo banked $365,000.
The Montana State job is regarded as one of the better ones in the FCS. Choate guided Montana State to the FCS semifinals in 2019.
The school does not have to rush in finding Choate's replacement. Montana State will not participate in the Big Sky's spring season, instead pursing a two-game modified spring slate "falling in line more closely with the traditional spring practice period."
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.