Once news of Brad Scott's sacking from the AFL club broke on Tuesday morning, speculation immediately started about whether Hird would return.
President Andrew Welsh said he had not contacted Hird, but added no-one had been ruled in or out to be the senior coach next season.
Hird then confirmed on Tuesday night he was keen to coach the Bombers again.
"The most important thing for me as an Essendon person and what I want to see the football club to do … is for them to go through the most exhaustive process possible for them to find the best person to coach Essendon," he told the Nine Network.
"If the club came to me and said would you be part of that process I would definitely say yes. That is something I would love to be part of, pit my wares against the other coaches and see if I am the best man for the job.
"If I am the best man for the job, yes I would love to do that job."
Hird applied for the role in 2022, with Kevin Sheedy the one board member to vote for him over Scott.
He said a year ago that he was not interested in coaching again, but made it clear on Tuesday night his passion for the job is back.
Hird's interest alone will divide Essendon fans, let alone if he returned, given the ongoing trauma from the club's drugs debacle.
The 1996 Brownlow Medallist, one of the greatest players in Essendon's history, coached the club from 2011-13.
The AFL banned him for 2014 over his role in the drugs regime. Eventually, 34 players served anti-doping suspensions.
"I' will put my hand up and say I was part of the mistakes that were made at Essendon in 2011 and 2012. They were partly my fault and I put my hand up," he said.
"But a lot of time has gone ... I've suffered a lot, the football club has suffered a lot and the supporters - mostly - have suffered a lot. And I think it's time for everyone to kick in and make this club great again."
Hird returned to coach in 2015, but left before the end of the season. The stress from the saga took a massive toll on his health and Hird was admitted to hospital in early 2017 after an overdose of sleeping pills.
He has been coaching director at VFL team Port Melbourne since last year.
"The mistake I made and there were a few of them, but the main one was not having enough oversight on a couple of people at our club," he said of his first time as Essendon coach.
"That attention to detail is something I have worked on a lot in my life and that will never happen again."
He called Essendon one of the "key staples" in his life.
"Let's go forward with this club and make it the best club in the AFL again," he said.
Hird also congratulated 2000 premiership teammate Dean Solomon, now Essendon's interim coach for the rest of the season.
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