On Tuesday, NFL legend Michael Vick announced that he’ll be the head coach of the Norfolk State Spartans. It will be his first experience coaching a college football team after a previous stop as an advisor for the Atlanta Legends (of the Alliance of American Football) in 2019.
The former dual-threat quarterback — who is the NFL’s all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards — replaced Dawson Odums, who was dismissed in November after four seasons and a 15-31 record.
Stephen A. Smith Happy With Michael Vick Hire
Among the many happy about this move for the controversial quarterback was Stephen A. Smith, who gave his two cents on the recent coaching hire
During Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith highlighted Vick’s potential value as a mentor and leader, particularly in guiding young athletes. He also compared Vick to NFL legends like Deion Sanders and Eddie George, who have proven to be successful coaches.
.@stephenasmith reacts to Michael Vick accepting a head coaching job at Norfolk State 👏
"It's not just about football, it's about more than that." 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WIJjcyU8Bi
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 18, 2024
“I’m happy about it,” Smith said. “I think Michael Vick was an absolute superstar in college. He had a lot of potential in the pros but made a lot of mistakes, both on and off the field, that have been well-documented.
“There’s a lot that he can teach to the young minds out there about the dos and don’ts if you want to be successful in collegiate sports and beyond. There’s a lot to be said about his experiences, bringing that practical knowledge along with the burdens of stardom and how those can derail you.
“So it’s not just about football; it’s about more than that,” Smith added. “I know he’s knowledgeable about football, but how good is he at teaching it? The way Eddie George at Tennessee State has proven to be, or the way Deion Sanders — now in Colorado and formerly at Jackson State — has proven to be, remains to be seen.”
Michael Vick’s Homecoming Has Him Excited
Vick grew up in Newport News, Virginia, and attended Warwick High School. Soon, his exploits on the field got him into headlines and Virginia Tech’s plans. After 13 seasons in the NFL, interrupted by a dog-fighting scandal that saw him spend 21 months in prison, Vick is excited for the opportunity to win games back home in Virginia.
“It’s an honor to announce that I’ll be the new head coach of Norfolk State University… looking forward to coming back home,” he stated.
Explaining his decision to take up a coaching job, Vick told Adam Schefter of his love for teaching.
“I think my heart is really into teaching, you know, the game of football,” Vick said. “I feel like I’ve learned so much from so many great coaches over the years. You know, I don’t want to bottle up a lot of knowledge, and I really can’t relay the messages that I want to relay to a high school kid because… you don’t have to dumb it down, but you can’t be as complex. And I get that.”
How he comes along with an HBCU college remains to be seen, but the football world has embraced Vick as he continues his post-playing football career.