 Childress in 2007 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1956-06-27)June 27, 1956 (age 69) Aurora, Illinois, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school | Aurora (IL) Marmion Academy |
| College | Eastern Illinois |
| Career history | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season | 39–35 (.527) |
| Postseason | 1–2 (.333) |
| Career | 40–37 (.519) |
| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Brad Childress (born June 27, 1956) is an American formerfootball coach. He worked for over 40 years as a coach for various college programs andNational Football League (NFL) franchises. He was the offensive coordinator forWisconsin from 1994 to 1998, the offensive coordinator for thePhiladelphia Eagles from 1999 to 2005, the head coach of theMinnesota Vikings from 2006 to 2010, the offensive coordinator for theCleveland Browns in 2012, and the offensive coordinator for theKansas City Chiefs in 2016.
He attended high school at theMarmion Academy inAurora, Illinois.[1] Childress is a 1978 graduate ofEastern Illinois University,[2] where he preceded currentDenver Broncos head coachSean Payton.[2] Childress attended Eastern Illinois after playing quarterback and wide receiver at the University of Illinois.[1] Childress suffered an injury before ever playing for Eastern Illinois.[3][4] He was one of threeEastern Illinois University alumni who have been head coaches in the NFL, along withSean Payton andMike Shanahan.Prior to his hiring by the Vikings, Childress had worked exclusively as an offensive coach, working his way up through the ranks at various colleges and NFL organizations, first as a position coach, culminating with hisoffensive coordinator position with the Eagles.[5]
During the last four seasons of his tenure on the University of Illinois' coaching staff, the Illini posted four consecutive winning seasons ('81–'84),[6] including a Big Ten championship and a trip to theRose Bowl in 1983.[7] Childress followed stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Northern Arizona, and the University of Utah with a successful run at the University of Wisconsin. Childress was the offensive coordinator under former Badger head coachBarry Alvarez,[8] and directed offenses that helped the Badgers to five bowl game appearances from 1993 to 1998, including two Rose Bowls as Big Ten co-champions following the 1993 and 1998 seasons.[7] He coached running backRon Dayne for three seasons. Dayne went on to win the 1999Heisman Trophy and finished his career as the all-time leading rusher in theFootball Bowl Subdivision.[9]
Childress joined the Philadelphia Eagles for the1999 NFL season, and helped the team to three consecutive trips to theNFC Championship Game (2001–03), and aSuper Bowl trip in 2004.[10] Andy Reid, the Eagles' head coach, had previously worked with Childress at Northern Arizona University, a staff that also included future NFL coachesBill Callahan andMarty Mornhinweg.[11] While Childress did not call plays for the Eagles (this responsibility was taken by Andy Reid), he did receive credit for his work with quarterbackDonovan McNabb, who was named to fivePro Bowls during his time with Childress.[12]
On January 6, 2006, Childress was hired to be the7th head coach of theMinnesota Vikings. This choice was the result of a short selection process. Former coachMike Tice was informed that his contract would not be renewed shortly after the Vikings' last game of the 2005 season on December 31. Four candidates were interviewed by the Vikings: Childress,Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinatorAl Saunders,Indianapolis Colts assistant head coachJim Caldwell, and former Vikings defensive coordinatorTed Cottrell.[12]
The Vikings were 9–7 withMike Tice in2005, the year before Childress was named head coach. After going 6–10 in his first season in2006, the team went 8–8 in his second season in2007, narrowly missing a playoff berth. This was followed by a 10–6 record andNFC North title in2008 while battling the fourth-toughest schedule in the NFL. However, the Vikings were defeated by the #6 seedPhiladelphia Eagles 26–14 in the first round of the2008–09 NFL playoffs.[13]
On November 19, 2009, the Vikings announced they would be extending Childress's contract through the 2013 season. The ownerZygi Wilf was cited as saying, “Brad has done a tremendous job leading this football team and we value the positive environment he has created for the Minnesota Vikings on and off the field, He has continued to positively impact this team and create a strong foundation for future success."[14]
Partly due to frustration with the development of quarterbackTarvaris Jackson, the Vikings signedBrett Favre for the2009 season. Favre joined to the team after a controversial courtship which included Childress picking him up at the airport.[15] Favre led the Vikings to a 12–4 season, losing to the eventualSuper Bowl XLIV championNew Orleans Saints in theNFC Championship Game.[16]
In2010, the Vikings acquired wide receiverRandy Moss and a seventh-round selection in the2012 NFL draft from theNew England Patriots in early October 2010 in exchange for the Vikings' third-round selection in the2011 draft. Just four weeks later Moss was waived under Childress' direction, one day after Moss criticized Childress and teammates in a press conference following the Vikings' loss to theNew England Patriots atGillette Stadium.[17] Just before the press conference, Moss reportedly told team ownerZygi Wilf that Childress was unfit to coach in the NFL and should be fired.[18] In violation of the team's policy where ownership is to be kept in the loop, Childress did not consider consulting with Wilf on the decision to waive Moss, although it was likely that Wilf would have not opposed this move, plus Childress's contract gives him the final say on football matters.[19] After the unilateral decision to cut Moss, Childress' integrity was questioned by at least one former Vikings beat reporter.[20]
Childress was fired on November 22, 2010, following a 31–3 home loss to the eventualSuper Bowl XLV championGreen Bay Packers which dropped the team to 3–7 on the year.[21]
On January 27, 2012, Childress became the Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator, reuniting with head coachPat Shurmur, whom he worked alongside at the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999 to 2005. He lasted just one season in Cleveland, and was let go at the end of the year along with head coach Pat Shurmur and the rest of the coaching staff.[22]
On March 28, 2013, new head coach of theKansas City ChiefsAndy Reid hired Childress as the spread game analyst and special projects coordinator, a position he stayed at for three seasons. On January 18, 2016, he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator withMatt Nagy. During games, Childress worked from a stadium skybox and Nagy on the sidelines.[23] On February 13, 2017, Childress was promoted to assistant head coach.[24] Childress announced his retirement on January 8, 2018, following a wildcard round playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans.[25]
On April 25, 2018, theAlliance of American Football announced Childress would serve as head coach of theAtlanta Legends starting with the inaugural 2019 season.[26] On January 9, 2019, one month before the team's first game, Childress resigned, with defensive coordinatorKevin Coyle succeeding him.[27]
In a 2019 interview with theChicago Sun-Times, Childress explained his decision was spurred by doubts about the AAF's long-term viability prior to the start of the2019 season. The league would fold midseason for financial troubles.[28]
On February 27, 2018, Childress came out of retirement to reunite with Nagy on theChicago Bears as an offensive consultant.[29] Serving through the 2018 offseason and training camp, Childress assisted Nagy in developing and installing his offense.[30]
Childress rejoined the Bears on May 1, 2019, as the senior offensive assistant.[30]
He retired from coaching in April 2020.[31]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| MIN | 2006 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3rd in NFC North | – | – | – | – |
| MIN | 2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in NFC North | – | – | – | – |
| MIN | 2008 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in NFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toPhiladelphia Eagles inNFC Wild Card Game |
| MIN | 2009 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in NFC North | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toNew Orleans Saints inNFC Championship Game |
| MIN | 2010 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Fired | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 39 | 35 | 0 | .527 | 1 | 2 | .333 | |||
Media related toBrad Childress at Wikimedia Commons