On Black Monday, so named for the coaching firings that immediately follow the regular season’s end, the Dolphins began looking for their head coaching hire by interviewing interim coach Todd Bowles.

That interview, announced by the Dolphins, will be followed this week, NFL sources said, by an interview with the consensus star of the available coaches, former Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher. Fisher is one of the few — and perhaps the only — former coaches actively seeking employment that satisfies Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ desire for a big-name coach who will excite the fan base. Also interviewing this week, perhaps Tuesday, will be Chicago special teams coordinator Dave Toub.

But Fisher’s dance card could be filled, if he so desires.

The Dolphins, Jacksonville and Kansas City finished the season under interim coaches. Tampa Bay and St. Louis blew out their coaching staffs Monday. That last city deserves examination in the courtship of Fisher.

The Rams have second-year quarterback and 2010 No. 1 overall draft pick Sam Bradford, who struggled this season as injuries chopped away the Rams roster. Tampa Bay has third-year quarterback Josh Freeman, and the Dolphins’ quarterback situation is somewhat uncertain. The Dolphins will pick either No. 8 or 9, depending on a coin clip, in this year’s draft.

The Rams also have executive vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff, son of Fisher’s longtime agent Marvin Demoff, who was in St. Louis on Monday.

As for Toub, he was Philadelphia’s special teams and quality control coach for three seasons before taking over Chicago’s kicking game in 2004.

The last longtime special teams coach to take an NFL head coaching position seemed a risky call at the time.

But John Harbaugh, under whom Toub worked in Philadelphia, has compiled a 48-23 record in Baltimore since taking over in 2008 after nine seasons as a special teams coordinator and one as a secondary coach.

Interviewing Bowles, an African-American, satisfies the requirements of the so-called Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview a minority for each head coaching opening.

Dolphins players varied on how much they would be following the coaching search. Some said they would follow intently while others, reasoning they had no part in the process, had a just-tell-me-when-it’s-done attitude.

Dolphins defensive end Jared Odrick said after Sunday’s season finale against the Jets he would be watching more HBO than ESPN over the next few weeks, then quipped, “I’ve got Twitter.”

At midday, after Bowles spoke to the players and the players were released for the offseason, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland released a statement:

“Steve Ross and I have a plan in place that is designated to insure that we identify and interview an outstanding set of candidates for the head coaching position. The process will be thorough, it will be in compliance with NFL policies, and will provide the best possible result for the franchise.

“That search has begun and there is no designated timetable; it will be conducted in a manner that gives us the greatest opportunity to hire the individual we feel is best suited to become the team’s head coach. Steve and I are excited to embark on this process, and we are confident that it will result in the selection of an outstanding individual who will return the Dolphins to their long-time status as one of the most successful teams in the league.”