It turns out that offensive coordinator Greg Roman isn’t the only 49ers assistant interviewing with the Vikings today. San Francisco defensive line coach Jim Tomsula is interviewing with the Vikings today as well.
We noted this week that Tomsula is a candidate for the Vikings job, and Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports that today is the day for Tomsula’s interview with the Vikings.
The 49ers are one of a few playoff teams with assistant coaches who are dividing their time this week between preparing for the next game and interviewing for a head-coaching opportunity. Most notably, Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt scheduled three interviews for this week.
Assistants always insist that they’re able to conduct these interviews without detracting from their preparation, but not everyone believes that. Former Ravens head coach Brian Billick said this week on ESPN Radio that he considers such interviews a distraction and wouldn’t want his assistants interviewing during the playoffs. (Perhaps Billick’s attitude explains why Marvin Lewis was a perennial head-coaching candidate while working for Billick in Baltimore, but didn’t actually get a head-coaching job until he left Baltimore and spent a year as the defensive coordinator in Washington.)
Tomsula spent the final game of the 2010 season as the 49ers’ interim head coach after Mike Singletary was fired and has stayed in San Francisco under Jim Harbaugh. He also has a season of head-coaching experience in NFL Europe.