It’s impossible not to think of Michael Vick’s past when you come upon his name. When you get involved in a controversy, the kind the former QB got into, it’s difficult. It’s been 15 years since Michael Vick began his second innings in life, courtesy of Andy Reid. And boy, has he come a long way. His NFL career lasted 13 years (15 with his prison time included), and Vick is now beginning a new chapter in life. After all this time, the former QB is once again faced with comments about his dark past. Michael Vick is many things, but he is not one to shy away from this.
Going as a first-overall pick in the draft is a huge, huge deal. In a way, it means that they are hands down the best college football player to have played that year. In 2001, that person was Michael Vick. He spent 3 years at Virginia Tech but entered the draft after just 2 seasons. 4,459 all-purpose yards, 38 TDs (passing and rushing), and a completion percentage of 56.3% in his college career. Vick also holds the record for holding the fastest 40-yard record ever for an NFL quarterback. All of that made the Atlanta Falcons trade up the board and pick him before anyone else. At this point, Vick was looking like he would head on to have a golden career in the NFL—the kind you tell your kids about.
People do talk about his career, but not in the way anyone had expected to before the Bad Newz Kennels controversy came up. Vick was sentenced to prison after being convicted of running a dog-fighting ring—and aiding more illegal activities—for 23 months. Officials found animals in brutal conditions on the property, which caused an uproar from animal rights activists. But Vick duly completed his sentence and has now even become an advocate for animal rights. But the journey to where he is right now is not an easy one. Here’s what he told Melvin Rodriguez in a May 28 episode of The Blessed Code.
February 12, 2025, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Norfolk State head coach and former all pro quarterback MICHAEL VICK waves to the audience as he is introduced during The cookout event, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 at the Wilmington Public Library in Wilmington, Del. Wilmington U.S.A. – ZUMAs124 20250212_fap_s124_001 Copyright: xSaquanxStimpsonx
Vick is confident that he has redeemed himself, despite the gravity of his crime. “Redemption comes in all types of forms, depending on how you look at it. My form of redemption was to set out to do things that was going to try to make amends best way I could, and also self-correct… like a boxer [stepping] back into the ring again, and be able to box with confidence.” Vick also said that he used that reference a lot when it came to this topic. “You know, a mistake is only a mistake if it happens twice. And so I knew, if I can avoid any more mistakes, you know, even though mine was a big one, then you know, future’s bright,” he added further.
Michael Vick’s future did turn out to be bright. But were people happy? Not quite. What Vick focused on after coming back from prison was trying everything he could to make up for his grave mistake. It’s not something that can be made up for, of course. But he has dedicated himself to the cause he once violated. The former Eagles QB is now associated with animal rights organizations. Because, like he said, a mistake is only a mistake if it’s done twice. Not only that, he had to fight his way back to his career all the way from zero. It could have ended in 2006 itself, because no team was keen on hiring such a prominent convict. But Andy Reid, then the HC of the Philadelphia Eagles, decided to take a shot.
Andy Reid gave Michael Vick the opportunity for redemption
Close to the end of the former NFLer’s prison sentence, Michael Vick was in huge trouble. He was looking at a life that involved not playing in the NFL. At this point, Andy Reid took a leap of faith and signed the QB, offering him a new lease on life. And in the beginning of the second part of his NFL career, Vick was no longer the same shining QB who ruled the 2001 draft. “He’s [Vick] scared to death. He’s shaking to play in the game that he once controlled,” Reid said at an event in July 2024, recollecting the initial days of Vick’s comeback. But the next year, he was able to quell a part of the hate he was facing with his brilliant season.
3,018 passing yards, 21 TDs, and a 62% completion percentage got Vick the NFL Comeback Player of the Year title. Not many people thought that a personality with such a dark past would be crowned with a title like this. And courtesy of that leap of faith, Vick went on to spend 7 years in the second installment of his NFL career. He holds Reid in extremely high regard and didn’t hold back from praising the Kansas City HC. “Andy just overall helped me become a well-rounded individual. Helped me grow up as a man… It’s just a lot of highs and lows, and Andy was always helping me to stay even-keeled.” He said at a presser as Norfolk State HC.
“You know, you just got to work a little harder, you know, and be more dedicated and disciplined,” Vick added further about his thoughts on redemption. Will the former QB be forgiven? The jury will be out on that for a long time. But he sure has come a long way from his past. Michael Vick thinks he is doing his bit to come over from his mistakes. But will it all ever be enough?
The post 15 Years After Incarceration, Michael Vick Makes Controversial Statement on His Past Mistakes & Redemption appeared first on EssentiallySports.
