Childress signs contract extension

According to ESPN.com, the Minnesota Vikings have signed head coach Brad Childress to a contract extension that will last through the 2013 season.

The official financial numbers were not yet available, but ESPN reports that the deal is worth between $4 and $5 million per year. Childress's current contract was set to run out after next season.

Childress has led the Vikings to a 32-25 record in his four years with the team, including an 8-1 mark so far this season. The Vikings are in contention for the top seed in the NFL playoffs with seven games remaining. Childress has also been credited as the reason why Brett Favre signed with the team, a move that has paid tremendous dividends for the team.

Favre has thrown for 2,269 yards on the year with 17 touchdowns.

The Vikings and Childress had been negotiating the deal for several months before it all came together Thursday morning. The deal came as no surprise to many as the Vikings had a bye this past week, an opportune time to work out things such as this.

The Vikings play host to the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.