Michael Vic was hired as head football coach in the state of Norfolk, according to several reports.
The Virginian-Pilot first reported the news Tuesday evening. A press conference officially announcing Vick as head coach is expected within a week, according to the report. Vick replaces Dawson Odums, who Norfolk State fired after a 15-30 record over four seasons.
Athletic confirmed the Virginian-Pilot report, which says Vick and NSU reached a contract Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not initially announced.
The head coaching job is the first for Vick, who played quarterback at Virginia Tech and in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. Vick has also reportedly spoken with Sacramento State regarding their head coaching vacancy. Vick, 44, has little or no formal coaching experience. (He was briefly a coaching intern with the Kansas City Chiefs and had a very short stint as offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Legends in the Alliance of American Football. Neither situation lasted long.)
“I know how to lead and I know what it takes,” Vick told the Virginian-Pilot.
This work keeps Vick close to his childhood roots. Vick grew up and played high school football in nearby Newport News, Virginia. He then played two seasons as quarterback at Virginia Tech.
In his first season as Virginia Tech’s starter in 1999, Vick led the Hokies to an 11-1 record and a No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press poll. Virginia Tech’s only loss this season came in a Sugar Bowl game for the national championship against Florida State. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and finished third in voting as a freshman behind winner Ron Dayne.
As a sophomore in 2000, Vick led the Hokies to another 11-1 campaign and finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting. The following spring, the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the first pick in the NFL draft.
Vick initially fulfilled his promise as an electric dual threat who changed the way the quarterback position was played in the NFL. After spending most of his rookie season learning on the bench behind Chris Chandler, Vick became a Pro Bowler in his first year as Atlanta’s starter in 2002.
He made three Pro Bowls in five seasons as a Falcons starter and twice finished in the top four in MVP voting. As an electric runner, passer and playmaker, he became one of the NFL’s biggest stars.
Then his involvement in a dog fighting scandal derailed his life and career. Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels was found to have tortured and killed pit bulls as part of a dog fighting operation. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, Vick and his associates hanged and drowned several dogs as part of their operation.
Vick initially denied having any direct involvement in the dog slaughter. After failing a polygraph test, he admitted to authorities that he “participated in the hanging of the dogs.” according to USDA report.
Vick pleaded guilty in 2007 to a federal charge connected to the aerial combat ring. He also was charged by the state of Virginia with torturing and killing dogs and promote dog fighting. He pleaded guilty in this case to the dogfight charge. The second charge was dropped as part of his plea deal.
Vick served 21 months in prison and was released in 2009. He was out of the NFL for two seasons.
He returned to the league with the Philadelphia Eagles after his release. He spent five seasons with the Eagles and another season each with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers before ending his playing career after the 2015 season.
Vick has worked as a football analyst at Fox Sports since his retirement.
