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Michael Vick in talks to become Norfolk State's head coach

By David Teel

Michael Vick in talks to become Norfolk State's head coach

David Teel and Michael Sauls, The Virginian-Pilot

Former NFL and Virginia Tech star quarterback Michael Vick said Monday that he has interviewed for the head-coaching position at Norfolk State.

Speaking from his Florida home, Vick told The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press that he has spoken with university president Javaune Adams-Gaston and Spartans athletic director Melody Webb and that he expects resolution "soon."

Vick said Norfolk State officials reached out to him and that he is intrigued by the potential opportunity of giving back to the Hampton Roads community that has long supported him.

Vick lacks formal coaching experience but said, "I know how to lead and I know what it takes."

He said he would hire a seasoned staff that would assist him in transitioning to the position.

Hiring Vick would end a nearly month-long search that started with the dismissal of Dawson Odums on Nov. 26. Odums' teams compiled a 15-31 record during his four years and finished with a losing mark in each of his final three seasons.

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"We are diligently working to provide the best candidate to our student-athletes, our fan base, and most importantly, to Norfolk State University," the school said in a statement Friday. "... The process, hopefully, will end soon, but we want to make the right decision for our program moving forward."

A Newport News, Va., native and former NFL Pro Bowler, Vick was a training-camp intern with the Kansas City Chiefs and was set to be the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football -- a now defunct spring league -- but ultimately became an adviser.

Since 2017, Vick has been an NFL analyst for Fox Sports. He's served as a studio analyst for Fox NFL Kickoff and Fox's one-hour NFL pregame show on Sundays during the NFL season. He also contributes to FS1's NFL coverage.

Vick requires no introduction -- locally or nationally.

He starred for local high schools before enrolling at Virginia Tech. After a redshirt season, he led the Hokies to the 1999 Big East title and an undefeated regular season that propelled them to the national championship game against Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.

Vick placed third in the 1999 Heisman Trophy voting, behind Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne and Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton, matching what was then the highest finish ever for a redshirt freshman.

A dual threat who helped to revolutionize quarterback play, Vick threw for 3,074 yards and 20 touchdowns in two seasons as Tech's starter, while adding 1,202 yards and 16 scores rushing. The Hokies went a combined 22-2, and shortly after their Gator Bowl victory over Clemson on New Year's Day 2001, Vick declared for the NFL draft.

The Atlanta Falcons selected him with the No. 1 overall pick, and in six seasons with the team, Vick made three Pro Bowls. He helped the Falcons become the first visiting team ever to win a playoff game at Green Bay's Lambeau Field, and in the 2004-05 season he led Atlanta to the NFC championship game.

In 2006, Vick became the first quarterback in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. Only Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields have done so since.

Vick's career was put on pause after the 2006 season due to his involvement in an illegal dogfighting ring, for which he spent 21 months in federal prison. In concert with animal-rights advocates, Vick worked tirelessly to mend his image, and with the blessing of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the Philadelphia Eagles signed him.

He was Donovan McNabb's backup in 2009, and in 2010 won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Award, throwing for 3,018 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, both career-highs at the time, and adding 676 yards and nine scores on the ground.

He played five more seasons in the NFL, three with the Eagles, one each with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, before retiring in 2017. In all, Vick was named to four Pro Bowls during his 13 seasons in the NFL and tallied 22,464 passing yards, 133 touchdown passes, 6,109 rushing yards and 36 rushing scores.

Vick would inherit a Norfolk State program that has struggled since elevating from the Division II CIAA to the Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 1997. The Spartans have subsequently earned only one Football Championship Subdivision playoff bid, that in 2011 when they won their lone MEAC title.

That championship was later vacated because Norfolk State had used ineligible players.

Norfolk State would be the latest Division I HBCU football program to make a splashy coaching hire.

In September, 2020, Jackson State appointed Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who had limited high school coaching experience. He led the Tigers to a 27-6 record in three seasons before parlaying that success into the Colorado job.

Tennessee State hired 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George (Ohio State) in April 2021. George had no coaching background and has since steered the Tigers to a 24-22 mark, which includes an FCS playoff appearance this season.

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