News

Vikings Pick Eagles' Childress To Be Head Coach
Jan. 6, 2006

After all the coach firings in the NFL this week, we actually have a hiring.

FOXSports.com has learned that the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a five-year deal with former Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress to become the team's new head coach. The team is expected to make it official Friday at an 11 a.m. press conference.
Childress flew into Minnesota on Monday night for his first interview, then had a second interview Wednesday evening after the Vikings brass returned from interviewing Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell.

Childress replaces Mike Tice, who was fired Sunday night following the team's season finale. Childress was scheduled to interview in Houston on Friday for the Texans opening, and then Green Bay on Tuesday and possibly the Saints.

Childress was one of the hottest candidates on the open market, and the Vikings like what he brings to their offense, particularly the quarterback position. In Philadelphia, Childress was credited with turning Donovan McNabb into the elite quarterback he is now and crafting a strong, ball-control philosophy.

He has been the Eagles' offensive coordinator the past four seasons and helped guide the Eagles to four consecutive NFC championships and last season's Super Bowl, a run that ended with a disappointing, injury-ravaged season in 2005.

The 49-year-old Childress joined the Eagles as the team's quarterback coach in 1999 and served as the offensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin before that.