Michael Vick hired as offensive coordinator for AAF's Atlanta franchise

The Alliance of American Football's Atlanta franchise will have two familiar faces on the coaching staff when play kicks off next February.

Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress will be Atlanta's head coach, and his offensive coordinator will be former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

Atlanta becomes the second confirmed market for AAF, which previously announced an Orlando franchise. Former University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier is set to be the head coach in Orlando.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution pointed out the coincidence of the timing of Vick's hiring: 11 years to the day from when Vick's Virginia property was raided in an investigation into dog fighting. Vick wound up serving 21 months in a federal prison before resuming his NFL career.

Last season, Vick was a coaching intern with the Kansas City Chiefs, with Childress serving as the team's assistant head coach under Andy Reid.

"I've always had a passion for teaching, a passion for coaching," Vick said Wednesday. "When Brad called me about this opportunity, I felt like it was obviously something I couldn't pass up."

Childress left the Chiefs in January, then signed on to be an offensive analyst for the Chicago Bears -- where former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was hired as the new head coach -- in late February.

"This is his team," Vick said of Childress, according to ESPN. "I'm just a guy here to help players develop. Obviously to dive into the offense and make suggestions, be a crutch for Coach, but we're going to follow his lead. When he thinks I'm ready, I'll graduate to the next level along with everybody else."

Childress, 61, produced a 39-35 record as head coach of the Vikings from 2006-10, leading Minnesota to the NFC Championship Game after the 2009 season. He also has served as offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chiefs.

The AAF Atlanta team will play at Georgia State Stadium. The league is expected to include eight teams, with former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel a possibility to lead a Southern California squad, according to multiple media reports.

--Field Level Media