The 10 Most Underrated NFL Head Coaches Since 2000
9. Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings
Average nERD: 2.05 (21st)
Average Win Differential: 0.80 (29th)
Brad Childress currently plies his trade as the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, but his heyday as a head coach came from 2006 to 2010 with the Minnesota Vikings. “Chilly,” as he was derisively referred to by some Minnesota fans, never found a great ton of consistency in the North Star State but was instrumental in bringing quarterback Brett Favre to the team in 2009, even going so far as to pick the Vikings’ archnemesis-turned-savior up from the airport himself when the team signed him.
That season was the high point for Minnesota football in recent memory. In 2009’s playoffs, the Vikings were one wing-and-a-prayer Garrett Hartley field goal from their first Super Bowl berth since Fran Tarkenton was under center. Childress is almost universally reviled in Minnesota these days, but perhaps the injection of hope he brought for one year -- and a highly underrated record -- should earn him a little more favor in the Twin Cities. This one elite season at 9.27 nERD definitely buoys his career average, but he stayed right around league average for the other four nonetheless.
