Vikings Fire Brad Childress, Avoid Paying Final Year Of Contract
On the heels of an embarrassing 31-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings have fired head coach Brad Childress. In a statement released by the Vikings, the team announced that defensive coordinator “Leslie Frazier has been named Interim Head Coach and will serve in that capacity for the remainder of the season.”
Last year, Vikings’ owner Zygi Wilf signed Brad Childress to a four-year extension through 2013; however, after a 3-7 start to this season, Wilf changed course. The Vikings will be required to pay Childress $6.6 million dollars for the remaining portion of his 2011 and 2012 contract, but Childress’ contract included a team option for the fourth year, which the team will avoid.
Interim head coach Leslie Frazier faces some difficult decision for the remaining 6 games of the season. Specifically, he needs to decide which quarterback gives him the best opportunity to win: Brett Favre or Tarvaris Jackson. He also will have to promote a member of the coaching staff to defensive coordinator.
Frazier’s next opponent will be the 5-5 Washington Redskins followed by the 2-8 Buffalo Bills. Those are two winnable games for the start to the Leslie Frazier era. To finish the season, his team faces the Giants, Bears, Eagles, and Lions. The next six weeks will determine Frazier’s fate in Minnesota and also allow other teams to see what he is capable of as a head coach.
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf and interim head coach Leslie Frazier will address the media at 3:00 p.m. CT today at Vikings facilities in Eden Prairie.
