“I want to apologize to the court, my family, and to all the kids who looked up to me as a role model.” This was Michael Vick, once a sensation in the NFL world, apologizing in front of a jury and pleading guilty to his infamous dog-fighting case. The world completely collapsed for Michael Vick that day. The same NFL star who was the first pick in the NFL draft in 2001 and earned a $130 million deal with the Falcons had to face utter humiliation and a media trial. Vick was handed a 3-year suspended sentence on August 28, 2007, and spent the next 21 months in jail. How could anyone come back from such a humiliation?
Michael Vick was a star in the NFL, having been named the first African-American QB selected at no. 1 overall. He had millions of young kids looking up at him and trying to replicate his heroics. But after just six seasons with the Falcons, he was embroiled in a dogfighting controversy, where he was accused of animal cruelty. His Falcons career went down the drain in a moment of judgment lapse, and the public turned against him. But Vick had nerves of steel as he was quietly writing his redemption story.
After being released from prison, no GM was willing to take a chance on taking a ‘felon’ on their team. The options then looked to be closing for Vick, but just then, Andy Reid, the Eagles’ head coach, gave Vick his chance at redemption. The quarterback not only gave back every ounce of gratitude but also passed for 3,018 yards with 676 rushing yards, something unseen at the time. The new Eagles’ QB won the Comeback Player of the Year award and went on to feature in the Pro Bowl team (his fourth).
The redemption started as the QB redefined the position entirely with his speed and elusiveness and surpassed legends like Randall Cunningham and Steve Young in rushing yards (6,019 yards, still a record). Vick now sheds light on the struggles and the times he saw after his incarceration.
Michael Vick, now appointed the new head coach of Norfolk State, was asked about his incarceration. The head coach owned up to his mistakes fully. “You take responsibility. Like, bro, I knew what I was doing when I got into this. I knew the consequences behind it. I knew it was a point in time where this could all blow up. Did I want that to happen? Hell no. Did it happen? Yes. I asked god like, ‘Man, why does this have to happen to me?’ But I already knew I was taking those chances.”
The Spartans hired Michael Vick after they posted a 4-8 record in 2024, playing in the MEAC. Norfolk State is looking for a head coach who can lead them to some winning seasons and get them back on track. Michael’s resilience and determination could certainly help them do that. The incarceration, now 18 years past, still feels like yesterday for the new Norfolk State head coach. Vick then shared how he bounced back from the tough times, and finally, being accountable for his mistakes helped him achieve his path of redemption, which is still going on to this day.
Norfolk State in redemption mode with Michael Vick?
Michael Vick’s Norfolk State appointment comes in the broader context of his redemption story. The program, one of the largest HBCUs in America, could surely learn many things from a legend and former player who had everything stacked against him. Yet, he rose through all the adversities and showed that nothing is impossible if one tries to redeem oneself. Norfolk State is also in a state where it needs redemption from its past performances. But before that comes self-accountability.
Vick delved into the role of accountability and inner reflection and how it helped him tackle his adversities. “Responsibility is everything. So, I had to hold myself accountable. And, you know, even though it hurt, like, man, look, I can’t cry over spilled milk. You know, just affecting so many people around me. That hurt, that right there that got me. You know what I’m saying? That hurt me more than anything.”
Michael Vick lives just 30 miles from Norfolk in Virginia, where he achieved legend status playing for the Virginia Tech Hokies. The hiring of Vick for Norfolk State mirrors past trends of HBCUs hiring coaches like Deion Sanders (Jackson State) and Eddie George (Tennessee State). Moreover, the spring game that the Spartans played on April 19th showed moments of brilliance all over, with former USF QB Izrael Carter lighting up the charts and Vick’s presence driving in local legends like Allen Iverson and Tyrod Taylor.
The post 18 Years After Incarceration, Michael Vick Makes Raw Confession on Hitting Rock Bottom & the Consequences of His Mistakes appeared first on EssentiallySports.
