In a marathon session that ESPN.com confirmed lasted nearly eight hours, and is believed to have covered virtually every aspect of the football operation, Cincinnati Bengals officials on Friday met with former Jacksonville Jaguars sideline boss Tom Coughlin about the vacancy created when Dick LeBeau was fired Monday morning.

Coughlin arrived in Cincinnati at mid-morning and huddled well into the evening with owner Mike Brown and other members of the Bengals' front office at an undisclosed location. In the evening, Coughlin did visit the Cincinnati offices and training complex, to get a first-hand inspection of the team's facilities.

"It was a good meeting," Coughlin said generically after the interview. "There are positives here on which to build. I appreciate having the opportunity."

Bengals officials have declined comment on any of the candidates with whom they have spoken.

Coughlin, 55, was fired by the Jaguars on Monday after eight seasons. Hired by owner Wayne Weaver, about 18 months before Jacksonville even played its first game, Coughlin was the only coach the franchise ever had.

The contact with Coughlin by Cincinnati owner Mike Brown, ESPN.com confirmed, came in the last few days. The interview certainly raises the club's pursuit of a coach to a new level, as Coughlin is the only candidate so far with previous head coaching experience in the NFL.

League and team sources confirmed to ESPN.com that Bengals officials met Tuesday in Cincinnati with highly regarded Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Bengals ownership will also interview Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Two current Cincinnati staffers, defensive coordinator Mark Duffner and longtime running backs coach Jim Anderson, will be interviewed as well.

Coughlin clearly is the most proven of the identified candidates. In eight seasons with the Jaguars, he compiled a 72-66 record, taking the team to the playoffs on four occasions. The fact his tenure ended with three straight losing campaigns may have overshadowed the brilliant job that Coughlin did from the outset of the franchise's existence.

The team advanced to the AFC championship game in only its second year on the field, 1996, losing to the New England Patriots. In 1999, Coughlin led the Jaguars to a league-best 14-2 record, but Jacksonville was upset by Tennessee in the conference title matchup.

One potential sticking point is that, unlike his Jacksonville job description, Coughlin would not have total control of the Bengals' football operation. Coughlin essentially functioned as his own general manager while with the Jaguars, but the Bengals do not have a GM and Brown has said he will not vest total power in one man.

It is believed, however, the Bengals are prepared to provide their new head coach more power than any of his predecessors.

Asked if the lack of a general manager's title might affect how he views the Cincinnati opening, Coughlin said: "I'd have to think about that for a while."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton also was used in this report.