CHICAGO – The Chicago Bears requested permission to interview Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements for their head coaching vacancy, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Clements joins Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan, Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillas and Atlanta Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong as the known candidates for the job previously held by Lovie Smith, who was fired on Monday after nine seasons.

Clements served as the Packers quarterbacks coach from 2006-'11 before being elevated to the offensive coordinator role this season.

The Bears attempted to interview Clements in the past to be their offensive coordinator, but Green Bay denied the Bears permission.

However, teams must grant their assistants permission to interview for head coaching positions, but the Bears will have to wait until after the Packers opening playoff game this weekend to speak with Clements.

While the Bears must wait until next week to meet with Clements, general manager Phil Emery traveled to Atlanta on Tuesday evening to interview Armstrong, a source told ESPN Chicago.

Emery and Armstrong’'s relationship dates back to 1998 when the two men both worked for the Bears, Emery as an area scout and Armstrong as the special teams coach. They also overlapped one year in Atlanta (2008) before Emery left in 2009 to become the director of college scouting for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Emery was then expected to remain in Atlanta and interview Sullivan on Wednesday, according to league sources. The Bears general managed is also scheduled to sit down with DeCamillas on Saturday morning in Dallas, a source said.

The Denver Broncos have reportedly told teams McCoy will be available for interviews in Denver between Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening.

Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was considered a candidate, but he reportedly signed an extension to stay in Atlanta.