DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions plan to interview former San Francisco 49ers coach Steve Mariucci by the end of the week, a source within the league said Wednesday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Lions chief executive Matt Millen made contact with Mariucci to set up a meeting after Millen fired coach Marty Mornhinweg on Monday.

"The process continues," Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said.

Mornhinweg, who served as offensive coordinator under Mariucci with the 49ers, was fired a month after the Lions finished 3-13. Mornhinweg had a record of 5-27 over his two seasons, the worst two-year stretch in team history.

On Monday, Millen said he hoped Mariucci would be a candidate for the job.

"I spoke to Steve after he was let go, and I would like to speak to him again," Millen said then.

Mariucci, who was born and raised in Iron Mountain, Mich., had a 60-43 record in six seasons with the 49ers, and he guided the team to the playoffs four times.

Mariucci clashed with 49ers owner John York, however, and the team fired Mariucci three days after a 31-6 loss at Tampa Bay in the divisional playoffs. Mariucci had one year left on his contract.

While Mariucci, 47, had just a 3-4 postseason record, he had won three times as many playoff games as the Lions have since winning the 1957 NFL title. Detroit beat Dallas 38-6 in the divisional playoffs on Jan. 5, 1992, and lost to Washington in the NFC championship game.

Mariucci's candidacy in Detroit already has discouraged one high-profile candidate from interviewing for the job.

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, former Vikings coach Dennis Green declined to interview after Millen could not guarantee him that Mariucci was not a lock for the job if Mariucci wants it. Green, who worked as an ESPN analyst last season, was interviewed for the Dallas and Jacksonville jobs but did not get either one.

A high-ranking NFL source told Mortensen on Tuesday that the Lions are having problems attracting minority candidates for their head coaching job, as mandated by league rules.

LSU football coach Nick Saban, who interviewed with the Lions in 1997 when he was head coach at Michigan State, issued a statement Tuesday saying he is not a candidate for the Lions' opening.

Saban interviewed with the Lions in 1997 when he was head coach at Michigan State, but the Lions hired Bobby Ross. Saban was the secondary coach of the Houston Oilers in 1988-89 and was defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-94.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.