Brad Childress: A New Era for the Minnesota Vikings

Strategic Insights -

Brad Childress, the 50-year-old head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, is starting a new chapter in his coaching career after leaving the Philadelphia Eagles as their quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Childress, a longtime friend and teammate of Andy Reid, is well-aware of the challenges that lie ahead for the Vikings, who are an intriguing team with numerous question marks. Despite the team's off-field issues in the past, including the volatile Randy Moss' run-ins with teammates and others, Childress is committed to changing the culture in Minnesota and building a team of good people who are good football players.

Key Takeaways:

  • Brad Childress, the new head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, has a 30-year coaching career with apprenticeships behind him, including six seasons as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • Childress left the Eagles in January to take the Vikings' head coaching position and is now in his first season as a head coach.
  • He inherited the Vikings' team in a public spat with Daunte Culpepper, who opted to rehab his severe knee injury in Florida instead of at the Vikings' training facility.
  • Culpepper was traded to Miami in mid-March, and Childress acquired 37-year-old Brad Johnson as his new/old quarterback.
  • Childress kept his team in pads through much of camp, unlike the conventional wisdom that less hitting saves a team later in the season.
  • He cut loose talented wide receiver Koren Robinson after his arrest on suspicion of driving while impaired, and brought in Todd Pinkston to replace him.
  • Childress is trying to change the culture in Minnesota, where the Vikings have had to deal with numerous off-field issues, including the "Love Boat" cruise.
  • He expects his players to be good people who are also good football players, and believes this will lead to more wins, as stated by his experience with the Eagles.

Statistics:

  • Brad Childress has 30 years of coaching experience behind him.
  • The Vikings are an intriguing team with numerous question marks.
  • The Vikings kept their team in pads through much of camp.
  • Brad Johnson is 37 years old.
  • Koren Robinson was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired in mid-August.
  • The Vikings' offense imploded in 2005, which followed Brad Childress being passed up for the Browns' head coach position in 2004.

Sources:

  • The Philadelphia Inquirer - (c) 2006, Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
  • Contact staff writer David Aldridge at 215-854-5516 or daldridge@phillynews.com.