Admin December 16, 2024
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Michael Vick could soon be joining the college football coaching ranks, and he appears to have options
The former NFL quarterback and current FOX Sports analyst recently interviewed to become the next football coach at Norfolk State University, he confirmed in a report Monday from The Virginian-Pilot and Newport News Daily Press. Norfolk State is an HBCU and Football Championship Subdivision school located near the Hampton Roads area of southeast Virginia that produced Vick.
Vick is also in discussions with Sacramento State football about its head coaching job, according to ESPN, in advance of Sacramento State building a new stadium, increasing its NIL funds and planning to become an FBS program in the near future.
Vick told the local outlets in Virginia that Norfolk State approached him about the job opportunity and he has since spoken with university president Javaune Adams-Gaston and Spartans athletic director Melody Webb about the position. Vick said he expects a resolution “soon.”
Norfolk State fired former coach Dawson Odums last month after he compiled a 15-31 record over four seasons. Sacramento State announced former coach Andy Thompson’s resignation last month. He finished with a 11-14 record over two seasons.
Vick, 44, has no formal coaching experience, but he would be joining a collection of former NFL players to begin their college coaching careers at an HBCU. Deion Sanders most recently parlayed his success at Jackson State into the job at Colorado, although Sanders had previously worked as a high school coach before Jackson State. Former Tennessee Titans and Ohio State star Eddie George got hired by Tennessee State in 2021 with no prior coaching experience and led the program to the FCS playoffs this season.
Vick has previously served as a training camp intern for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017. He was also slated to be the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Legends of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football league, but it was announced he would serve in an advisory role two days before the team’s first game.
Vick initially became a star as a dual-threat quarterback at Virginia Tech, finishing third in 1999 Heisman Trophy voting and leading the Hokies to the national championship game. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, electrifying fans with his arm and legs while leading the franchise to the NFC Championship game and eventually becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Vick’s NFL career was temporarily derailed after he was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for his role in an illegal dogfighting ring in 2007. He has spent years working with and on behalf of animal rights groups in the aftermath of pleading guilty to the felony charge. Vick returned to the field with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2009 season and was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2010. He last played in an NFL game in 2015 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This story has been updated with news that includes Vick’s discussions with Sacramento State.