With the level of athleticism at the quarterback position today, it is becoming much more likely that Michael Vick’s legend as a player will fall into the archives of obscurity.

Baltimore Ravens Superstar Lamar Jackson broke the formidable record for all-time rushing yards by an NFL quarterback on Christmas Day. The record had previously been held by the legendary but controversial Michael Vick, ever since retiring as an underused backup with his 4th team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Vick’s Records Have Fallen

This story seems familiar in that another of Vick’s impressive, record-setting achievements was eclipsed by Lamar Jackson in 2019. Jackson ran for an incredible 1,206 yards, clear of Vick’s previous record of 1,039 yards, which he set in 2006 with the Atlanta Falcons.

This is the last of Vick’s seemingly unbreakable records to have fallen in recent years. The quarterback position continues to increasingly personify the total athlete, who can throw and run equally or better than Vick did. Vick’s single-season record has been surpassed twice, with his ‘06 mark now sitting third behind Jackson and Justin Fields, who ran for 1,143 yards with the Chicago Bears in 2022.

That brings us today to the perplexing issue of whether or not the sporting world is ready to forgive and move on from the memory of Michael Vicks’s heinous crimes committed over several years. 

Vick’s actions during that time effectively robbed himself and football fans everywhere of a chance to see how great he could have been.

The crimes, of course, involved severe animal cruelty and Vick himself being convicted of having owned and facilitated a dog fighting ring out of his house in Surry County, Virginia.

Vick was prosecuted and convicted in 2007 of Conspiracy to Sponsor a Dogfighting Operation. He served 21 months in Federal Prison, and the details of his crimes have been documented and openly shared by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) organization via various channels ever since.

As for Vick, since officially retiring from the NFL in 2017, he has remained relatively silent and out of the public eye, apart from a cameo on Donald Glover’s hit show Atlanta on FX. He stayed out of the game until this most recent rumor and now, what seems to be official, his hiring as the head coach of Norfolk State Spartans of the Division 1 Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC) conference.

Norfolk State Spartans Head Coach

Vick will try to bring the perennial sub-500 Spartans back to a respectable record. The team has not finished a season above .500 since 2007, when Vick was in serious trouble.

It is unlikely that PETA and its supporters will ever support the thought of Vick being given a second chance in life, or in this case, an opportunity to coach football at any level.

PETA has indicated that they do not believe Vick is at risk of reoffending. This also should be the view of the football world.

Michael Vick has served his time and has undoubtedly indicated a feeling of remorse for his actions. His crimes, though, were heinous, and they remain available for anyone to read when they desire to develop an informed opinion of the matter.

End Of My Mike Vick Article

It is safe to say that Vick’s ceiling as a coach might be made of plexiglass. His potential promotion will likely have determined limits.

However, winning fuels success, and if Michael Vick can turn around the Norfolk State Spartan football program and produce a winner, there is no telling how far his coaching journey might go. In 2025, there is sure to be more media attention devoted to football in the MEAC conference than in years past.