Chiefs history apparently matters little to Dick Vermeil. His first interview with an external candidate for the vacant defensive coordinator's position will be with his predecessor as head coach.

And Vermeil will travel to get there. He will fly today to Nashville, Tenn., to meet with Gunther Cunningham.

Whether or not Cunningham gets the job, a mere interview is absurdly ironic enough. Cunningham, the Chiefs' defensive coordinator from 1995 to 1998 and head coach during the subsequent two years, was not only fired to make way for Vermeil but also was let go after the Chiefs had an agreement with Vermeil.

But Vermeil insisted Friday, and Cunningham said this week, none of that mattered anymore.

“The only issue here,” Vermeil said, “is to hire the best defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.”

Cunningham was the linebackers coach for the Titans since being fired by the Chiefs. He interviewed with the Jets and Falcons this week for their vacant defensive-coordinator posts.

The only others to interview for the Chiefs job, which came open this week, are two current staff members, defensive-backs coach Peter Giunta and linebackers coach Joe Vitt.

Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson talked with Cunningham earlier in the week as did Vermeil, who spoke with Cunningham by phone.

If hired, Cunningham would replace Greg Robinson, who announced his resignation on Tuesday.

Under Robinson, the Chiefs had the 29th-ranked defense in the NFL last season, allowing an average of 356.7 yards per game. In 2002, the Chiefs' defense was ranked last in the NFL, allowing 390.5 yards per game.

The Chiefs had the 23rd-ranked defense in 2001.

During 1995-98, when Cunningham was the defensive coordinator, the Chiefs ranked as high as second in the NFL and were no lower than 18th.

Cunningham was 16-16 in his two seasons as the Chiefs' head coach before Vermeil took over.