TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -Norm Chow became the seventh candidate to be interviewed for the Arizona Cardinals' coaching job, and expressed great interest in a potential reunion with quarterback Matt Leinart.

Leinart even dropped by for lunch while Chow was meeting with Cardinals ownership and front office personnel on Monday.

``Obviously I have a real fondness for Matt,'' Chow said after his interview. ``We were together for all three years that I was at USC. He's a very unique young man. I think he's a very special young man, and in time he's going to be a premier quarterback in the National Football League.''

Chow has spent the past two seasons as offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, where he last season he helped mold top draft pick Vince Young into a quarterback so successful he was named NFL offensive rookie of the year.

Chow has often been mentioned as a head coaching candidate, especially for college jobs, but never has been hired. Now, at age 60, he could be running out of chances.

``I've never sat around aspiring to be one,'' Chow said. ``I was taught a long time ago there are two kinds of assistant coaches, those that aspire to be head coaches and those that are just content to do what they're doing. There's a need for both. One's not any better than the other. There's nothing wrong with either one.''

But with all the offensive talent at the skill positions, Arizona presents a special opportunity, he said.

``I've chosen to just work as hard as I could in the situations we were given,'' Chow said. ``However, this opportunity presents itself to at least have a chance to be a head coach, and it's an exciting one and it's something I would really look forward to.''

The Cardinals have one more candidate to be interviewed.

Russ Grimm, Pittsburgh Steelers assistant head coach-offensive line coach, is to be in Tempe on Tuesday. The Cardinals interviewed another Pittsburgh assistant, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, on Friday. Grimm interviewed for the Steelers' job on Monday, and Whisenhunt is scheduled to do the same on Tuesday.

Cardinals general counsel and vice president Michael Bidwill, son of owner Bill Bidwill, and Rod Graves, vice president for football operations, are spearheading the coach search. They interviewed two candidates out of town over the weekend - Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in San Diego on Saturday and Colts assistant head coach-quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell in Indianapolis on Sunday.

Others who have interviewed to replace the fired Dennis Green are former Green Bay head coach and current Houston assistant Mike Sherman, Chicago defensive coordinator Mike Sherman. Clancy Pendergast, Cardinals defensive coordinator under Green, also was interviewed, but that was believed to be mainly as a courtesy.

Chow said he didn't believe the Cardinals' losing history would be an issue.

``I don't think that's a problem at all. In the National Football League, there's that much different between football teams, the winning and losing,'' he said, holding his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. ``The Tennessee Titans started up 0-5 and ended up 8-8. The Pittsburgh Steelers go to the Super Bowl, then don't even make the playoffs.

``There is a minimal amount of difference between the teams, and what's happened in the past has absolutely nothing to do with what goes on from here on out.''

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