Cottrell Returns to NFL

The last Vikings fans heard from Ted Cottrell, he was being unceremoniously fired over the phone by new head coach Brad Childress. A little more than a year later, he's back in the NFL with a potential dream job as defensive coordinator of the 14-2 Chargers.

Many believed when the Vikings fired Ted Cottrell over the phone in order to get Mike Tomlin locked and loaded as their defensive coordinator that Cottrell’s coaching career was over. And why not? After more than 20 years of coaching, Cottrell seemed ready to call it a career.

That was until a dream job came calling. Cottrell, who spent last season working for the league, was named the Chargers defensive coordinator. The hiring came on the same day in which the team announced the hiring of Norv Turner as their new head coach.

In addition, the Chargers brought in Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to serve as the linebackers coach. Rivera, who had interviewed for more than a half dozen head coaching vacancies over the past two years, was released from his contract earlier in the day by the Bears.

It is expected that Rivera will eventually replace Cottrell, who likely will spend just a year or two as defensive coordinator.

The hiring of Turner, Cottrell and Rivera comes just days before the Chargers contingent heads to Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine.

TUESDAY NOTES
* The Vikings have extended a tender offer to exclusive rights free agent punter Chris Kluwe. The offer means Kluwe will receive $435,000 this season.
* Former Vikings quarterback Mike McMahon, who was originally signed to be the Vikings backup behind Brad Johnson before an awful preseason led to his release, turned down an offer from the Browns to play for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.