Fred Childress

While the American expansion in the mid 1990s ultimately failed, it did produce some positive results.  One was to bring many top notch American players into the CFL, and one of those was "The Big Chill", Fred Childress.  At six foot four inches, and 330 pounds, Childress certainly lived up to his nickname . Childress was a second round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengels of the NFL in 1989.  Childress saw action with the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns, before coming to the CFL.   Childress actually signed first with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in March of 1994, but was transferred to the expansion Shreveport Pirates in August of 1994, before playing any games for the Bombers.  Childress played 12 games in that rookie season for the Pirates.  In 1995, Childress played for the Bimringham Barracudas and won his first divisional All-Star for the South.  After the failure of the American teams, following the 1995 season, Childress signed with the Calgary Stampeders as a free agent.  After three seasons with the Stampeders (1996-1998), in which he was a West and CFL All-Star in all three years, Childress signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.  After his released by Dallas, Childress returned to the Stampeders partway through the 1999 season.  Chidress remained with Calgary through the 2003 season, earning West All-Stars at Guard in 2000 and Tackle in 2001.  Childress was released by Calgary after the 2003, season, but he was not quite ready to retire yet, and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in June of 2004.  Childress played for the Riders from 2004 through the 2006 season. Childress finished his outstanding career with 6 Division All-Stars and 3 CFL All-Stars.  He was also named the Outstanding Offensive Lineman in the CFL in 1998, after being the runner-up to Mike Kiselak in 1997.

NFL Stats for Fred Childress