Norfolk State has its next head football coach in NFL legend Michael Vick, the program confirmed on Friday.
David Teel and Michael Sauls of The Virginian-Pilot first reported Tuesday that Norfolk State agreed to a contract with Vick to give him the position that was left vacant after the school fired Dawson Odums.
This comes after Sacramento State president Luke Wood told ESPN's Adam Schefter he met with Vick to discuss the former NFL quarterback's interest in becoming the head coach of that program.
Vick has never coached before, but he is familiar with the area as someone from Newport News, Virginia, which should, in theory, help him in recruiting.
So should his name recognition, as he was one of the most dynamic playmakers of his era as a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback who largely defined a generation of Atlanta Falcons football. What's more, Teel and Sauls noted Vick has already reached out to possible assistant coaches with some of them "likely" to be names that are "familiar to fans."
Vick is certainly familiar to fans as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 NFL draft.
He went to three Pro Bowls in his first six seasons with the Falcons and remains one of the best running quarterbacks in NFL history. He led Atlanta to the playoffs twice during that span, including when he led the team to the NFC Championship Game during the 2004 campaign.
However, Vick didn't play in 2007 and 2008 because he served 18 months in prison and two months in home confinement for financing a dog-fighting ring.
He eventually returned to the NFL in 2009 and played seven more seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. The highlight of the post-Atlanta portion of his career came when he was a Pro Bowler and the Comeback Player of the Year in 2010 when he was with the Eagles.
While Vick has worked in media with Fox Sports since his retirement, attention now turns toward a rebuilding job with Norfolk State.
And it will be a significant one, as Teel and Sauls noted each of the program's last five coaches finished with losing records. That stretch dates back to the 1990s with Odums, Latrell Scott, Pete Adrian, Willie Gillus and Mo Forte all struggling to establish a winning program.
What's more, the Mid-Eastern Athletic is down to six teams after conference realignment, which makes scheduling all the more difficult.
Still, Vick brings star power to the program and will look to start turning things around in his first season in 2025.
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