SPORTS: Cleveland Browns Name Their New Offensive Coordinator

BROWNS NAME BRAD CHILDRESS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

The Cleveland Browns today named Brad Childress offensive coordinator, the team announced. Childress brings 33 years of coaching experience on both the collegiate and professional levels to the Browns, including 13 in the NFL. Most recently, he spent five seasons (2006-10) as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

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). As the quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin, the Badgers appeared in five bowl games, which included two Rose Bowl victories in 1993 and 1998.

Childress began his collegiate career at Eastern Illinois before transferring to the University of Illinois, where he played quarterback and wide receiver. He graduated from Eastern Illinois with a degree in psychology. A native of Aurora, Illinois, Childress attended Marmion Christian Academy.

Brad and his wife, Dru-Ann, have three sons, Andrew, Christopher and Kyle, and one daughter, Cara. They also have twin grandsons, Aiden and Brecken.

Brad Childress’ Coaching Background:

1978-84 University of Illinois, graduate assistant/running backs/wide receivers

1985 Indianapolis Colts, quarterbacks coach

1986-89 Northern Arizona University, offensive coordinator

1990 University of Utah, wide receivers coach

1991 University of Wisconsin, running backs coach

1992-98 University of Wisconsin, quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator

1999-2001 Philadelphia Eagles, quarterbacks coach

1992-05 Philadelphia Eagles, offensive coordinator

2006-10 Minnesota Vikings, head coach

2012- Cleveland Browns, offensive coordinator