CHARLOTTE (AP) – The Carolina Panthers are holding a second interview with San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, moving him to the front of candidates to replace the fired John Fox.

Team spokesman Charlie Dayton said Monday that Rivera was scheduled for the interview in Charlotte. But he says that’s as far along as the process is and he hasn’t been hired.

The Panthers have interviewed three other defensive coordinators: Perry Fewell of the New York Giants, San Francisco’s Greg Manusky and Rob Ryan of Cleveland. None of them have received second interviews.

The 49-year-old Rivera has been with the Chargers since midway through the 2008 season. Before that, the former Chicago linebacker was defensive coordinator of the Bears.

The Panthers will pick first in the upcoming draft after finishing with just two victories. They scored just 17 touchdowns and averaged a league-low 12.3 points per game.

 All three of the Panthers’ previous head coaches (Dom Capers, George Seifert and John Fox) were former defensive coordinators.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)