Dec 12, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) smiles after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Eagles beat the Cowboys 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
Update 4:12 p.m. ET: Adam Schefter of ESPN says that Sacremento State is also vying for Vick.
Sacramento State is in discussions to hire former Pro-Bowl QB Mike Vick as its new head coach, per sources. Sacramento State plans to move up to FBS, is building a new stadium and has over $50 million in NIL. Sacramento State would build an experienced coaching staff around Vick…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 16, 2024
Original Story
Former Eagles quarterback Michael Vick recently interviewed for an HBCU head coaching job, he revealed.
Vick told David Teel and Michael Sauls of The Virginian-Pilot that he interviewed for the coaching vacancy at Norfolk State:
"Speaking from his Florida home, Vick told The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press that he has spoken with university president Javaune Adams-Gaston and Spartans athletic director Melody Webb and that he expects resolution 'soon.'
"Vick said Norfolk State officials reached out to him and that he is intrigued by the potential opportunity of giving back to the Hampton Roads community that has long supported him."
As for never having coached, Vick said later in the story that "I know how to lead and I know what it takes."
He actually was a coaching intern with Andy Reid's staff on the Kansas City Chiefs during Training Camp in the summer of 2017:
There's a familiar face helping #Chiefs QBs at camp this year.
Michael Vick is one of Andy Reid's coaching interns.
More on this later. pic.twitter.com/cTlpQBGYvo
Obviously, Deion Sanders had tremendous success coaching at Jackson State, an HBCU, before leaving to become the head coach at the University of Colorado. Sanders has offered a blueprint of taking a legendary player and making them the CEO of your program.
At the same time, Sanders had high school coaching experience, and his son Shedeur followed him to both Jackson State and Colorado. He's likely to be the top quarterback taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jackson did convince Travis Hunter — who won the Heisman Trophy this past weekend — to come to Jackson State, and then Colorado. That's a huge feather in his cap. The question is whether Hunter believed in Sanders because of his Hall of Fame playing career, which ended before he was two years old, or because he has an extremely compelling personality that people gravitate towards.
No offense to Vick, but he's always come off as more soft-spoken. He was one of the more electric players in NFL history, but he hasn't played in the league since 2015. Kids in high school now may remember him on the Eagles, but certainly weren't around to watch him at Virginia Tech or with the Atlanta Falcons. Will seeing highlights of him, or having a parent that loved watching him, be enough to get top-tier talent? It's fair to wonder, though Vick's legend does carry a ton of weight in Virginia.
If Vick does end up as the next coach at Norfolk State, it would be the continuation of one of the great redemption stories in American history. Whether you forgive Vick for federal dogfighting charges that landed him in prison for 21 months or not, he's been a model citizen since leaving prison. He came back to the NFL as a member of the Eagles in 2009, and had a nice second act to his career. He's now worked with FOX Sports for seven NFL seasons.
