Michael Vick is set to return to the football field as the head coach of Norfolk State, marking his first coaching position at any level. The former NFL star announced his acceptance of the role on his Facebook page Tuesday night. While the university has yet to confirm the hiring, Vick expressed his excitement about the opportunity to return to his roots, stating, “Looking forward to coming back home.”
At 44 years old, Vick is well-known for his impressive college career at Virginia Tech and his time in the NFL, where he was a four-time Pro Bowler over 13 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was instrumental in redefining the quarterback position, showcasing the ability to both run and throw effectively.
Vick’s career was marred by a significant setback when he served 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to dogfighting. After his release in 2009, he made a comeback in the NFL, earning the AP Comeback Player of the Year award with the Eagles in 2010, although his peak performance years were behind him. He retired in 2017 and has since become an advocate against animal cruelty, in addition to working as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports.
The hiring of Vick by Norfolk State was first reported by the Virginian-Pilot. The school recently parted ways with head coach Dawson Odums following a 4-8 season. Norfolk State, a historically Black university, competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and has made one appearance in the FCS playoffs, where they lost to Old Dominion in 2011.
Prior to accepting the position at Norfolk State, Vick also engaged in discussions with Sacramento State regarding their head coaching vacancy.
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