Brad Childress Fired As Vikings Head Coach Following 3-7 Start

The Redskins need a win next week and, if history has anything to say about it, they’ll probably get it against the Vikings.

The Vikings now turn to interim head coach Leslie Frazier to turn this season into something other than a complete disaster.

The contract extension was reported at the time to take him through the 2013 season with plenty of guaranteed money. ESPN’s John Clayton reported details of the contract last week in the wake of the Brad Childress firing watch.

Owing Childress over $6 million over the next two seasons is even more reason for the Vikings to hang onto defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier -- named the interim head coach -- as the full-time head coach after the season. That, plus the possible ramifications of a NFL lockout, puts Frazier in a good position to try and win the full-time job.

While his task is indeed difficult, Frazier may also have an edge on getting the job full-time because of reasons related to the potential NFL lockout. As Peter King of SI.com wrote on Monday morning, in-house candidates will be given a harder look this year because any new head coaches may not be able to work with the team until a new labor deal is completed, which could be late into the summer (if not longer). That would encourage continuity, which would help Frazier’s position as someone who is already on staff.

Check out Daily Norseman for more on the Brad Childress firing.

The news of Childress’ firing comes three days and a year after the Vikings handed him a contract extension through the 2013 season. Unfortunately for Childress and for Vikings fans, he couldn’t replicate the magic he created in Minnesota in 2009

Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs over the past few years so he will likely be the in-house favorite to become the interim head coach.