Browns hire Childress as offensive coordinato

The Cleveland Browns hired Brad Childress as offensive coordinator. A former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, Childress is a former Minnesota Vikings head coach. He was fired in 2010

As head coach of the Vikings, Childress guided Minnesota to a regular season record of 39-35 (.527), as the team won consecutive division titles (2008-09) for the first time in 28 years (1977-78). In 2009, the team posted a 12-4 record, matching the second-best win total in franchise history, while leading the NFL with a club-high 10 Pro Bowlers.

Also in 2009, the team’s passing offense, led by quarterback Brett Favre, finished the season ranked eighth, as Favre set career-highs in passer rating (107.2) and completion percentage (68.4%), while throwing 33 touchdown passes.

During Childress’ first four seasons at the helm, the Vikings’ rushing offense posted the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL (136.1 ypg) and the third-best average for rushing yards per carry (4.5). Under Childress’ tutelage, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson led the NFC and ranked second in the NFL with 1,341 rushing yards as a rookie. Peterson also led the league in rushing in 2008 with a franchise-best 1,760 yards and paced the NFL in 2009 with 18 rushing touchdowns.

Prior to joining the Vikings, Childress spent seven seasons (1999-2005) with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he tutored the quarterbacks for the first three years (1999-2001) and spent the final four as offensive coordinator (2002-05). During his tenure with the club, the Eagles posted a 70-42 record (.625), captured four consecutive NFC East Division titles (2001-04) and advanced to the postseason five straight seasons (2000-04). Philadelphia also represented the NFC in Super Bowl XXXIX following the 2004 season.

During that season, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb set franchise records in passer rating (104.7) and completion percentage (64.0%), while becoming the first quarterback in NFL history with more than 30 touchdown passes (31) and fewer than 10 interceptions (8) in a single season. As offensive coordinator, Childress led a group that ranked in the top 10 in total offense twice, amassed more than 5,000 yards each season and averaged 333.8 yards per game. In addition, the offensive unit was highlighted by seven starters who earned a combined 14 Pro Bowl berths from 2000-05.

Childress began his coaching career at the University of Illinois, spending the 1978 season as a graduate assistant before coaching both the running backs and wide receivers for six seasons (1979-84).

In 1985, he entered the NFL coaching ranks as he spent one season (1985) as the quarterbacks coach with the Indianapolis Colts. Over the next 13 years, he made coaching stops at Northern Arizona (1986-89), the University of Utah (1990) and the University of Wisconsin (1991-98).

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