Sacramento State has major plans for its football program, and those could include bringing in a notable former NFL quarterback as its head coach.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that Sacramento State was "in discussions" to make Michael Vick its next head coach. This comes after Vick told David Teel and Michael Sauls of The Virginian-Pilot he expects a decision "soon" after he interviewed for the head-coaching position at Norfolk State.

"Sacramento State plans to move up to FBS, is building a new stadium and has over $50 million in NIL," Schefter wrote. "Sacramento State would build an experienced coaching staff around Vick that is in line with the new frontier of college football."

Schefter also shared a quote from Sacramento State president Luke Wood:

Vick is best known for his playing days with the Atlanta Falcons and doesn't have coaching experience.

Still, he told Teel and Sauls, "I know how to lead and I know what it takes."

He would have quite the rebuilding job ahead of him if he took the Norfolk State head-coaching position, as the program fired head coach Dawson Odums after going 15-31 in parts of four seasons. It also has just one winning season since 2012, which happened in 2021 when it went 6-5.

Sacramento State isn't exactly a football powerhouse either and went 3-9 overall and 1-7 in Big Sky play during the 2024 campaign. Its lone conference win came in double-overtime against Weber State on Oct. 19.

Yet the Hornets aren't far removed from their 12-1 season in 2022 that ended with a stunning 66-63 loss to Incarnate Word in the FCS quarterfinals. They also went 9-3 in 2021 and reached the playoffs, where they lost to South Dakota State in the second round.

Schefter described a program that is ready to make a significant financial contribution toward winning in the future, and Vick would bring instant name recognition on the recruiting trail.

After all, he was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 NFL draft and was a three-time Pro Bowler in his first six seasons in the league with the Falcons. His dynamic style of play and ability to make defenders miss with his speed and agility made him a fan favorite, and he is still largely associated with the franchise when discussing his playing days.

His career was paused for two years, though, when he served 18 months in prison and two months in home confinement for financing a dog-fighting ring.

Yet Vick returned to the league in 2009 and played seven more seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the 2010 Comeback Player of the Year and a Pro Bowler that season during his time with Philadelphia.

He has since remained around the game as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports.