Coaches

The Vikings steady progress over the past 3 seasons manifested itself with the 2008 NFC North title and a 10-win season, laying the foundation for the 2009 season. The NFC North championship was the 1st division title for the club since 2000, also the last time the squad hosted a playoff game. The Vikings return a core of talented veterans that features 6 Pro Bowl players and several current team-record holders. Since coming to the Vikings in 2006, Childress has had 9 players earn Pro Bowl honors a combined 17 times.

Childress enters the 2009 season, his 32nd in coaching and 12th on an NFL sideline, with a team poised to build on the progress made in his opening 3 seasons with the Vikings. The NFC North title was Childress’ 5th division crown in the past 8 seasons dating back to 2001 with Philadelphia and the 6th playoff appearance in his past 9 seasons. In his past NFL 9 seasons between Minnesota and Philadelphia, Childress has been part of teams that have only suffered 2 losing seasons.

The Vikings continued to build on their identity as a  physical team that dominates the lines of scrimmage in 2008. The   defense established an NFL standard by ranking #1 against the run for the 3rd straight season- the only team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to accomplish the feat. Offensively, the team featured the 1st NFL rushing title holder in franchise history when Adrian Peterson ran for a team-record 1,760 yards. Peterson was recognized with the prestigious Bert Bell Award as the Pro Football Player of the Year by the Maxwell Club, tied for runner-up in the Associated Press’ Offensive Player of the Year balloting and tied for 4th in the Associated Press’ Most Valuable Player voting. Six Vikings were recognized with Pro Bowl berths, led by Peterson, G Steve Hutchinson, DT Kevin Williams, DT Pat Williams, DE Jared Allen and CB Antoine Winfield.

The 2008 Vikings were able to capitalize on the acquisition of key elements through free agency, trades and the draft. Allen’s impact on the defense was immediate, helping the unit rank #6 in the NFL after finishing #20 in 2007. His 14.5 sacks were the most by a Viking in over a decade and his competitive nature was a natural fit with the team. Allen joined with the proven Williams DT duo to anchor the defense and make the trio the 1st threesome of Vikings defensive lineman to be honored with Pro Bowl berths since 1969 and the days of the Purple People Eaters. Winfield was recognized as a Pro Bowler for the 1st time in his 10th NFL season and was a force against the run and pass.

Another free agent find, WR Bernard Berrian, was 2nd in the NFL with an impressive 20.1 yards-per-catch average. His big-play ability was showcased when he scored on an NFL-record tieing 99-yard TD pass against his old Chicago teammates and followed that up 2 weeks later with an 82-yard punt return TD. Berrian tied with TE Visanthe Shiancoe for the team lead with 7 TD catches. Berrian set a new Vikings record by scoring 3 TDs of 80+ yards in a season.

ADDING TALENT AND KEEPING CHEMISTRY
During Childress’ 3 seasons leading the Vikings the team has had 8 players earn 11 NFC Player of the Week honors, including 5 in 2008- 2 on offense, 2 on defense and 1 on special teams. Of those 8 players, 7 joined the Vikings via free agency or the draft since Childress came to the team.

The Vikings ability to add key elements through free agency, trades and the draft while keeping solid team chemistry has been a fundamental principle under Childress’ leadership. Finding players whose talents fit the team-first philosophy and whose work ethic matches that of their teammates has helped build a roster that is single-minded and accountable to one another.

STAYING THE COURSE THROUGH ADVERSITY
Since taking over the Vikings in 2006, Childress’ teams have one of the most productive rushing attacks in the NFL. The Vikings have the 3rd-best rushing yards per game average in the NFL since 2006 at 141.2 and are tied for 6th in the NFL with 49 TDs on the ground. 

The Vikings have been able to overcome adversity and play their best football in the critical times of the season. The Vikings are 13-5 in the months of November and December during the 2007 and 2008 seasons combined. The 2008 squad bounced back from a 1-3 start to go 10-6, the only team in the playoff field that started the season 1-3. The 2008 squad also had to overcome the loss of 2 of the 3 team-voted MVPs from the previous season to injury early in the season. Emerging NFL star LB E.J. Henderson went on injured reserve with a season-ending injury in the 4th game of the year after being named 2007 Vikings Defensive MVP by his teammates and selected as the 2008 defensive captain. Fellow LB Heath Farwell was lost for the year in the preseason opener to a knee injury after being tabbed as the Vikings Special Teams MVP in 2006 and 2007. The Vikings coaching staff was able to move on by developing depth behind each player and adjusting to the enormous loss of both players.

PROVEN SUCCESS WITH PHILADELPHIA
Childress joined the Vikings following a 7-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, including the final 4 seasons as offensive coordinator. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles represented the NFC in Super Bowl XXXIX, amassed a 70-42 (.625) record in the regular season, won 4 straight NFC East titles from 2001-04 and advanced to the playoffs from 2000-04. During Childress’ time as offensive coordinator (2002-05), the Eagles were 43-21 in the regular season, the most wins in the NFC over that span. Since joining the Eagles in 1999, Childress’ teams had a 13-1 mark against NFC North teams including playoff wins over Chicago, Green Bay and Minnesota.

The Eagles offense under Childress was able to excel while adjusting to personnel transition and injuries. The team ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in total offense twice in those 4 seasons and assembled numerous individual achievements. In the 4 seasons Childress guided the offense, the team amassed 5,000+ yards each season, averaging 333.8 yards per game in that span. The Eagles offense from 2000-05 featured 7 players who earned 14 berths in the Pro Bowl, highlighted by signal caller Donovan McNabb. Joining McNabb in Hawaii over the span were TE Chad Lewis (3 times), T Tra Thomas (2), G Jermane Mayberry (1), T Jon Runyan (1), WR Terrell Owens (1) and RB Brian Westbrook (1).

The Eagles improvement during Childress’ tenure was remarkable as the team went 5-11 in Andy Reid’s staff’s first season in 1999. A year later the 2000 Eagles won the 1st playoff game in 8 seasons for the franchise. The 2001 team that won the NFC East was the 1st division title for the Eagles since 1988 and the 2004 team that won 13 regular season games en route to the NFC title set the franchise record for wins.

COLLEGIATE PROGRAM BUILDING
Before joining Reid’s staff with the Eagles, Childress spent 8 seasons, 1991-98, on the University of Wisconsin campus coaching quarterbacks, running backs and ascending to offensive coordinator. During his tenure in Madison the Badgers played in 5 bowl games, highlighted by Rose Bowl victories to cap the 1993 and 1998 seasons. The Badgers climbed out of the cellar of the Big Ten under the staff led by Barry Alvarez. The coaches inherited a team that was 1-10 in 1990, but turned the program around quickly by finishing as Big Ten co-champions in 1993 and topped UCLA in the Rose Bowl. The Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth were the 1st for UW since 1963 and the team featured Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell at QB. The Badgers repeated the accomplishment during the 1998 season, sharing the conference title and beating UCLA in the Rose Bowl in Childress’ last season at the school.
His coaching career began at Illinois from 1978-84 where he began as a graduate assistant before coaching the Illini RBs and WRs. Childress’ first taste of NFL coaching came as quarterbacks/quality control coach of the 1985 Indianapolis Colts. He went on to coaching stops at Northern Arizona from 1986-89 and Utah in 1990. It was at NAU where he first met Reid and worked on Lumberjack staffs that featured future NFL head coaches Marty Mornhinweg, Bill Callahan and Reid.

Childress and wife, Dru-Ann, have 4 children- Cara, Kyle, Andrew and Christopher. Born and raised in Aurora, IL, Childress attended Marmion Academy. Childress briefly played QB and WR at Illinois before graduating from Eastern Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In 2008 Childress was recognized by his alma mater with the Marmion Centurion Award, the highest honor bestowed on Marmion alumni for exceptional achievement in their chosen field.

Childress has expanded the Vikings community outreach efforts by players, welcoming special guests to watch normally closed Saturday practices during the regular season and taking the entire squad on an annual playground build to a local school. In 2008, every Vikings player participated in a community relations event. 

CHILDRESS’ BACKGROUND

COACH:

1978-84 Illinois Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Graduate Assistant

1985 Indianapolis Colts Quarterbacks/Quality Control

1986-89 Northern Arizona Offensive Coordinator

1990 Utah Wide Receivers

1991-98 Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks, Running Backs

1999-01 Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks

2002-05 Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator

2006- Minnesota Vikings Head Coach

  
Season/Team W L T

1978 Illinois 1 8 2

1979 Illinois 2 8 1

1980 Illinois 3 7 1

1981 Illinois 7 4

1982 Illinois 7 5 Liberty Bowl

1983 Illinois 10 2 Big 10 Champions, Rose Bowl

1984 Illinois 7 4

1985 Indianapolis Colts 5 11

1986 Northern Arizona 7 4

1987 Northern Arizona 7 4

1988 Northern Arizona 6 5

1989 Northern Arizona 3 8

1990 Utah 4 7

1991 Wisconsin 5 6

1992 Wisconsin 5 6

1993 Wisconsin 10 1 1 Big 10 Co-Champions, Rose Bowl Champions

1994 Wisconsin 8 3 1 Hall of Fame Bowl Champs

1995 Wisconsin 4 5 2

1996 Wisconsin 8 5 Copper Bowl Champions

1997 Wisconsin 8 5 Outback Bowl

1998 Wisconsin 11 1 Big 10 Co-Champions, Rose Bowl Champions

1999 Philadelphia Eagles 5 11

2000 Philadelphia Eagles 11 5 NFC Divisional Playoffs

2001 Philadelphia Eagles 11 5 NFC East Champions, NFC Runner-Up

2002 Philadelphia Eagles 12 4 NFC East Champions, NFC Runner-Up

2003 Philadelphia Eagles 12 4 NFC East Champions, NFC Runner-Up

2004 Philadelphia Eagles 13 3 NFC East Champions, NFC Champs, Super Bowl XXXIX

2005 Philadelphia Eagles 6 10

2006 Minnesota Vikings 6 10

2007 Minnesota Vikings 8 8

2008 Minnesota Vikings 10 6 NFC North Champions, Wild Card Playoffs