The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly requested permission from the San Francisco 49ers to speak to their defensive coordinator Jim Tomsula regarding their vacant head coach position.

The Vikings have previously spoken to Cleveland Browns coach Ray Horton about the role, which has been free since the franchise fired Leslie Frazier on December 30.

Now Tomsula has been made a target, with ESPN reporter Adam Caplan tweeting: "The #Vikings are expected to request an interview with #49ers DL coach Jim Tomsula for their head coaching job, source said."

Tomula's only previous head coaching experience came in 2010, when he led the 49ers to victory in his one and only game in charge as interim boss.