Childress attended J. J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas playing for Coach Hilton Lambeth, where he was an All-state defensive tackle.
As a junior, he posted 117 tackles, 15 quarterback sacks (school record) and was named second-team All-American by Gannett News Service (GNS).
Childress was considered one of the top prospects in the 1985 NFL draft and was in serious consideration for the first-overall selection; the Buffalo Bills, who held the pick, ultimately chose another defensive end, eventual Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.
[6] He shares the NFL record for fumble recoveries in a single game, having recovered three from the Washington Redskins on October 30, 1988.
After the move, he would end up as a Pro Bowl selection in Hawaii four more times as a defensive tackle.
As a testament to his excellence, four of the eight lowest single-season rushing totals allowed in Oilers history came between 1990 and 1993, with Childress at tackle.
Childress was the foundation of a remarkable defensive unit that saw Houston make seven consecutive playoff appearances.
On December 4, 1996, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, to replace a suspended Leon Lett.
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