Brad Childress: Record with Vikings wasn’t problem, hubris was
By Dan Zinski
Brad Childress says he “stands by his record” as coach of the Vikings, but it wasn’t his record that ultimately got him fired by Zygi Wilf.
Andy Reid says Brad Childress should get another shot as a head coach in the NFL, and maybe he’s right.
Until that shot materializes Childress will continue working as co-offensive coordinator under Reid in Kansas City.
In a profile in USA TODAY, Childress says he almost didn’t come back to work for Reid, but contemplated retirement instead.
Childress says his experience watching his friend Jim Johnson succumb to cancer made him reassess his plan to retire.
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You only go around once and all that sort of thing.
As for the unpleasant way Chilly’s tenure in Minnesota ended? No regrets there:
"“I stand by my record,” Childress said. “I’m over .500, by four games. Situations happen. They did what they had to do.”"
Childress went 39-35 with the Vikings, leading them to two playoffs and one conference title game.
Ultimately it wasn’t the regular season record or even the playoff defeats that did in Childress, it was hubris.
Fatefully, Childress acquired personnel power after the Vikings’ so-called “triangle of authority” lost one of its points with the firing of Fran Foley.
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I wouldn’t say Childress became absolutely drunk with power, but he certainly didn’t become a shrinking violet after maneuvering himself into a position to do pretty much whatever he wanted with the roster.
Childress got really lucky in 2009 when Brett Favre fell in his lap, and unlucky in 2010 when Favre decided to return.
One move above all the others spelled Childress’ downfall: acquiring Randy Moss via trade, then cutting Moss just a few games later.
Somewhat arrogantly, Childress failed to run the decision to cut Moss by ownership before pulling the trigger.
Okay, maybe Chilly was a little drunk with his own power at the end there.
Next: O-line issues mounting for Vikings
How would Childress’ tenure in Minnesota have turned out with a proper front office set-up? We’ll never know.
I’m just happy that now the Vikings have a solid division-of-labor between GM Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer. The new plan seems to be working out pretty well.