Bears consultant Brad Childress takes head-coaching job in start-up league

Bears senior offensive consultant Brad Childress was hired Wednesday to be the coach of the Atlanta franchise of the start-up Alliance of American Football, a league that will launch in February.

RELATED STORIES

From trades to needs to sure things, where the Bears could turn on draft night

When it comes to the draft, Bears GM Ryan Pace is NFL’s man of mystery

Childress will leave the Bears after training camp, but officials said that was the plan all along. A former Vikings coach, Childress was hired to help coach Matt Nagy, his pupil with the Chiefs, teach the Bears their new offense. No other Bears assistant coach has experience in Nagy’s West Coast-spread system.

Former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who once spent 18 months in prison for dogfighting, will return to Atlanta to become Childress’ offensive coordinator. He served as a coaching intern for the Chiefs last year, befriending Childress.

Last month, executive Charlie Ebersol announced the creation of the league alongside co-founder Bill Polian.

Former Bears edge rusher Jared Allen is among the NFL vets involved in the league, which has announced two franchises and plans to add eight more in the coming months.

Bears presenters

Bears linebacker great Mike Singletary will announce the team’s second-round pick Friday night, the NFL said.

Charles Tillman will be honored in the third round, where the Bears don’t have a selection. If they acquire one, the former cornerback will read it to the public.

Singletary and Tillman attended Texas high schools. The Bears drafted both in the second round — in 1981 and 2003, respectively.