The Buffalo Bills have requested permission to interview Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase for their head coach position, according to multiple reports.

Gase, 36, was expected to interview Friday with the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers for their openings, then meet with the Chicago Bears on Saturday.

Gase is the first potential candidate to emerge for the Bills after former coach Doug Marrone opted out of his contract Wednesday.

Gase, who has been with the Broncos since 2009 and has coached in the NFL since 2005, is able to interview for teams this week with Denver on a bye before kicking off their playoff run next week.

Speculation about the next Buffalo coach had centered on San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator and former Bills quarterback Frank Reich, with much of that talk predicated on the expected return of Bill Polian to the front office. However, Polian informed Bills owner Terry Pegula on Thursday that he will remain as an ESPN analyst and commentator.