Childress fired, Frazier is interim coach

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf made the move this morning that many at Mall of America Field called for during the fourth quarter on Sunday afternoon. He fired coach Brad Childress.

The team announced that Childress has been relieved of his duties and that defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has been named the interim coach and will serve in that capacity for the remainder of the season. Wilf and Frazier will address the media at 3 p.m. today at Winter Park.

Childress was fired a day after the Vikings' 31-3 loss to arch-rival Green Bay dropped them to 3-7 on the season. This comes a year after the Vikings went 12-4 and made a run to the NFC title game.

Childress, 54, signed a contract extension through 2013 last November but it was reported last week that the final year is the team's option and that Wilf will have to pay Childress $6.6 million for 2011 and 2012.

Wilf spent only a brief time in the Vikings locker room following Sunday's loss and appeared livid as he departed. He refused to comment but NFL sources indicated he made the decision last night that Childress would be fired. Vikings players have not officially been informed of the move as a team by noon but will be briefed on the situation at their regular Monday afternoon meeting.

The Vikings website posted a statement from Childress that read: "The past five years have been a tremendous experience for my family and I as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. I have a great respect for the players and coaches who I have worked with and for their dedication to each other and to the organization. I am proud of our accomplishments and believe the foundation of this football team is stronger today than when I became head coach in 2006. I appreciate the opportunity that Zygi, Mark, and the whole Wilf family afforded me and wish them success as they move forward."

Childress took over the Vikings in 2006 after being an assistant on the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff from 1999 to 2005. Childress compiled a 39-35 regular-season record and was 1-2 in the playoffs, including the loss to New Orleans in the NFC title game last season.

Frazier, 51, played for the Chicago Bears from 1981 to '86 and was a starter at cornerback for the 1985 team that won the Super Bowl. He led Chicago in interceptions in 1983, '84, '85 but his career was cut short by a severe knee injury suffered in the Super Bowl.

Frazier began his coaching career at what is now known as Trinity International University in Illinois in 1988 and remained at the school before moving to the University of Illinois in 1997. Frazier began coaching defensive backs for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999 and served as defensive coordinator for Cincinnati in 2003-04.

Frazier has interviewed for seven head coaching jobs in the past three offseasons, including Atlanta, Miami, St. Louis, Denver, Detroit, Buffalo and Seattle.

Childress' dismissal does not come as a shock given that his job has been in jeopardy since he took it upon himself to cut Randy Moss on Nov. 2 after the mercurial wide receiver was with the team for less than a month. The Vikings had given up a third-round pick for Moss but Childress felt he had seen enough after four games.

This left Wilf furious because Childress did not consult with ownership before making his decision. Wilf spent a part of the next week talking to various club officials and players about the head coach and it was believed he might have made a move after the Vikings' game on Nov. 7 against Arizona.

The Vikings, though, have lost the past two weeks, falling to NFC North rivals Chicago and Green Bay. By all appearances, Childress had little support in the locker room and Sunday marked a low point with the Vikings getting trounced on the field and bickering off of it.

Defensive end Ray Edwards and cornerback Chris Cook exchanged words on the sideline, a product of the poor play by the Vikings young cornerbacks, and quarterback Brett Favre and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell exchanged words on the sideline following Favre's second quarter interception.

Several players also slammed their helmets in frustration and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe had to be calmed by tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson. In the fourth quarter, a chant of "Fire Childress," could be heard throughout Mall of America Field.

Asked about his job security after Sunday's game, Childress said: "I can't really talk about that because that's not my decision going forward."