Michael Vick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michael Vick

Vick in 2017
Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	Norfolk State
Conference	MEAC
Record	0–0
Biographical details
Born	(1980-06-26) June 26, 1980 (age 44) Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
Alma mater	Virginia Tech
Playing career
1998–2000	Virginia Tech
2001–2006	Atlanta Falcons
2009–2013	Philadelphia Eagles
2014	New York Jets
2015	Pittsburgh Steelers
Position(s)	Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2019	Atlanta Legends (OC/OA)
2025–present	Norfolk State
Head coaching record
Overall	0–0
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2010) 4× Pro Bowl (2002, 2004, 2005, 2010) Bert Bell Award (2010) Archie Griffin Award (1999) First-team All-American (1999) Big East Offensive Player of the Year (1999) Big East Rookie of the Year (1999) NFL record Career yards per carry (minimum 750 career rushing attempts): 7.0
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2025

Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Norfolk State University. Vick played quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He was the first NFL quarterback to run for 1,000 yards in a single season. When he retired, he held the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback.

Vick played college football at Virginia Tech. As a freshman, he won the Archie Griffin Award. The Atlanta Falcons chose him as the first overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft. During his six years with the Falcons, he went to three Pro Bowls. He helped the team reach the playoffs twice and win one division title. They even made it to the NFC Championship Game.

Vick's NFL career paused in 2007 due to serious personal issues. These issues led to him being away from football for a time. He was released by the Falcons before returning to the NFL.

After this time away, Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2009 season. He played for the Eagles for five years. In 2010, he had one of his best seasons. He led the team to a division title and won Comeback Player of the Year. He also earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection. For his last two seasons, Vick played for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was mostly a backup player. He officially retired in 2017. After his playing career, Vick started coaching. He was an offensive coordinator and advisor for the Atlanta Legends in 2019. In late 2024, Vick became the head football coach at Norfolk State.

Early Life and High School Football

Michael Vick was born in Newport News, Virginia, on June 26, 1980. He was the second of four children. His parents worked hard to support the family. They lived in a public housing area in Newport News.

Michael's father, nicknamed "Bullet," taught him football skills very early. Michael was only three years old when he started learning. He later taught his younger brother, Marcus Vick, how to play too. Michael also learned a lot about football from his older cousin, Aaron Brooks. They spent a lot of time at the local Boys and Girls Club.

High School Football Success

Vick first became well-known at Homer L. Ferguson High School. As a freshman, he showed amazing athletic talent. He once threw for over 400 yards in a single game that year. Ferguson High School closed in 1996. So, Vick and his coach, Tommy Reamon, moved to Warwick High School.

Vick was a starting player for the Warwick Raiders for three years. Under Coach Reamon, he passed for 4,846 yards and 43 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,048 yards and 18 touchdowns. In his senior year, he passed for 1,668 yards. He scored 10 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns. In one game, he ran for six touchdowns and threw for three.

Coach Reamon helped Michael with his college plans. He helped him choose between Syracuse University and Virginia Tech. Reamon suggested Virginia Tech because it was close to Michael's family. He also felt that Coach Frank Beamer would guide him well. Vick chose Virginia Tech. When he left his hometown for college in 1998, he was seen as a big success story in Newport News.

College Football Career

Vick started his college football career as a redshirt freshman in 1999. In his first game against James Madison, he scored three rushing touchdowns quickly. He got hurt on his last touchdown, so he missed the rest of that game and the next. Later that season, Vick led a game-winning drive against West Virginia.

He led the Hokies to an amazing 11–0 undefeated season. They reached the Bowl Championship Series national title game in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State. Even though Virginia Tech lost, Vick helped the team come back from a big deficit. During this season, Vick was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

In 1999, Vick led the NCAA in passing efficiency. This was a record for a freshman. He won an ESPY Award as the top college player. He also won the first-ever Archie Griffin Award as college football's most valuable player. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, which was the highest a freshman had ever finished at that time.

Lane Stadium, where Vick played college football for Virginia Tech

In the 2000 season, Vick had a career-high 210 rushing yards against Boston College. He also led the Hokies to a big win over West Virginia University. The next week, Vick helped Virginia Tech come back from a 14–0 score to beat Syracuse. He sealed the win with a 55-yard run.

Vick got injured in the next game against Pittsburgh. He missed that game and the one against Central Florida. He couldn't start against the Miami Hurricanes, which was Virginia Tech's only loss that season. Vick's last game for Virginia Tech was in the Toyota Gator Bowl. Virginia Tech won, and Vick was named the game's MVP. In 2017, he was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements.

Vick left Virginia Tech after his second year. He wanted to help his family. He said he would buy his mother a home and a car. Later, ESPN reported that Vick used his NFL earnings to buy his mother a new house.

College Statistics

Professional Football Career

At his Pro Day workout, Michael Vick ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds. Some timed him as fast as 4.25 seconds, which is the fastest ever for an NFL quarterback. The Atlanta Falcons picked Vick first in the 2001 NFL draft. He was the first African-American quarterback to be the top pick. The Falcons traded with the San Diego Chargers to get the number one pick. Vick also got picked in the 30th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies, even though he hadn't played baseball since middle school.

Vick in Baltimore with the Atlanta Falcons during the 2006 season

Vick signed a six-year contract with the Falcons worth $62 million.

Atlanta Falcons Years

Vick played his first NFL game on September 9, 2001, against the San Francisco 49ers. He had limited playing time. He completed his first NFL pass on September 23 against the Carolina Panthers. He scored his first NFL touchdown with a two-yard run, helping the Falcons win 24–16. Vick made his first start on November 11 against the Dallas Cowboys. He threw his first touchdown pass in a 20–13 victory. In his first season, Vick played in eight games, starting two. He passed for 785 yards and rushed for 289 yards.

2002 Season Highlights

In 2002, Vick started 15 games. He missed one game due to a sprained shoulder. He passed for 2,936 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 777 yards and eight touchdowns. Vick set many personal bests that season. He also set an NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game with 173 yards. This record was later broken in 2013. The Falcons finished with a 9–6–1 record and made the playoffs. On January 4, 2003, Vick led the Falcons to a big win over the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round. The Falcons then lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick was chosen for his first Pro Bowl after this season.

Vick at the 2006 Pro Bowl

2003 Season Challenges

Vick broke his right leg during a preseason game in 2003. He missed the first 11 games of the regular season. He returned in week 13. In his first start of the season, he rushed for 141 yards, which was the third-highest for a quarterback in NFL history at that time. The Falcons won that game. Vick finished the season with a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2004 Season Comeback

Vick played very well in 2004. He passed for 2,313 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also ran for 902 yards and three touchdowns. The Falcons finished with an 11–5 record. On October 31, 2004, he became the first quarterback to throw for over 250 yards and rush for over 100 yards in the same game. Vick set an NFL playoff record for a quarterback with 119 rushing yards in the first round of the 2004 NFL playoffs. Atlanta beat the St. Louis Rams, but then lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick was named to his second Pro Bowl. He also signed a big nine-year contract extension.

2005 and 2006 Seasons

Vick made his third Pro Bowl after the 2005 season. He passed for 2,412 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 597 yards and six touchdowns. However, the Falcons missed the playoffs that year.

In 2006, Vick made history. He became the first quarterback to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He also set a record by rushing for 8.4 yards per carry. Vick and his teammate Warrick Dunn were the first quarterback-running back duo to each rush for over 1,000 yards in one season. Despite these records, the Falcons did not make the playoffs.

Time Away from Football

In August 2007, Michael Vick was suspended from the NFL. This happened because of his involvement in serious off-field issues. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that Vick's actions were "not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible." The suspension meant Vick could not play and would not be paid. The Falcons later sought to get back some of Vick's signing bonus. In February 2009, the Falcons released Vick, making him a free agent.

Philadelphia Eagles Years

Vick warming up with the Philadelphia Eagles in September 2009

After his time away, Vick was helped by former coach Tony Dungy. On August 13, 2009, Vick signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. The contract was worth $1.6 million. He was allowed to practice and play in the last two preseason games. He could play in the third week of the regular season. Starting quarterback Donovan McNabb suggested to coach Andy Reid that they sign Vick.

2009 Season Return

Vick joined the Eagles' main roster in mid-September. He played a little as McNabb's backup. In Week 13, against his former team the Atlanta Falcons, Vick scored both a passing and a rushing touchdown. These were his first scores since December 2006. His teammates voted him the winner of the Ed Block Courage Award in December. This award honors players who show sportsmanship and courage. The Eagles made the playoffs with an 11–5 record. In the Wild Card game, Vick threw his longest touchdown pass to rookie Jeremy Maclin. The Eagles lost that game.

2010 Comeback Season

Coach Reid named Kevin Kolb the starter for 2010 after McNabb was traded. Vick said he still felt he could play at a high level. The Eagles kept him for the 2010 season. Reid named Vick the starting quarterback on September 21 after Kolb got a concussion. Vick played very well. In his second game as a starter, he led the Eagles to a 28–3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another touchdown. He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.

In a game against Washington in November, Vick passed for 333 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 80 yards and two more touchdowns. He threw an 88-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game. He helped the Eagles win 59–28. Vick was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for this game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame even asked for his game jersey to display. He was the first player to pass for three touchdowns and rush for two touchdowns in the first half of a game.

Later in the season, Vick led a big comeback against the New York Giants. He helped erase a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter. He scored three touchdowns to tie the game with less than two minutes left. The Eagles won the game as time expired. Vick finished the season with 3,018 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed for 676 yards and nine touchdowns. Philadelphia made the playoffs but lost to the Green Bay Packers.

Vick made his fourth Pro Bowl after the season. He was named the Eagles' starting quarterback. The Associated Press and Sporting News named him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He also won the Bert Bell Award. In early 2011, Vick signed a new six-year, $100 million contract with the Eagles.

Vick in a game against the Washington Redskins on October 16, 2011

2011 and 2012 Seasons

In Week 4 of the 2011 season, Vick had 416 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 75 yards. He finished the 2011 season with 3,303 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. He also rushed for 589 yards. The Eagles finished the season with an 8–8 record.

Vick started the 2012 season as the main quarterback. He led the Eagles to a 17–16 win in Week 1. However, the Eagles then lost several games. Calls grew for coach Andy Reid to replace Vick. Vick got injured in Week 10 and was replaced by Nick Foles. Foles became the starter for the rest of the season. Vick played in the final game of the season, but the Eagles lost.

2013 Season

In 2013, Vick signed a new one-year contract with the Eagles. New head coach Chip Kelly said Vick, Foles, and rookie Matt Barkley would compete for the starting job. After a great preseason, Vick won the starting job back.

Vick started the season well, winning his first game. He had his first career 400-yard passing game in a close loss. In those two games, he had four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns with no interceptions. However, Vick then suffered a hamstring injury. Nick Foles played very well in his place. Vick later got another injury. He spent the rest of the season as the backup quarterback.

New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers

On March 21, 2014, Vick signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets. He chose to wear number 8 as a tribute to Steve Young, but later changed it to number 1. He was the first Jets quarterback to wear that number. Vick came in during a game against the San Diego Chargers and played as a backup. After seven losses, coach Rex Ryan named Vick the starter. In Week 10, Vick became the first quarterback to reach 6,000 rushing yards.

On August 25, 2015, Vick signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His signing caused some debate among fans. Steelers president Art Rooney II defended the signing, saying Vick had shown he had changed. In Week 3, Vick played after Ben Roethlisberger got injured. Vick played in five games, passing for two touchdowns. He then suffered a hamstring injury and missed several games. Roethlisberger returned, and Vick did not play for the rest of the season.

Retirement from Playing

In 2016, Vick said he would play one more NFL season. However, he did not sign with any team. He officially announced his retirement from professional football on February 3, 2017. On June 12, 2017, Vick officially retired as an Atlanta Falcon.

After the NFL

After retiring, Vick joined the newly formed American Flag Football League in 2017. He was a captain for Team Vick. The next year, he captained the Roadrunners. In 2017, he also became an NFL analyst for Fox NFL Kickoff on FS1.

Coaching Career

Early Coaching Roles

In 2017, Vick joined his former coach Andy Reid as a coaching intern with the Kansas City Chiefs. He had expressed interest in coaching before.

Atlanta Legends Coaching

On April 25, 2018, Vick was hired as offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football. Vick said he felt he could "make a difference and give back to the game." He was excited that it was in Atlanta. Before the season started, he became a team consultant instead of offensive coordinator.

Norfolk State Head Coach

On December 20, 2024, Michael Vick was named the 19th head football coach at Norfolk State University.

Head Coaching Record

Endorsements and Charity Work

During his time with the Falcons, Vick was a spokesperson for many companies. He had deals with companies like Nike, EA Sports, Coca-Cola, and Hasbro.

After his return to football, Vick signed a deal with Unequal Technologies in 2011. Nike also signed Vick again as an athlete in 2011. This was notable because Nike had dropped him before. In 2012, Vick launched his own sports clothing line called V7. It was sold at Modell's, and some of the money went to the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia.

Vick has also been involved with two charity foundations: the Michael Vick Foundation and The Vick Foundation. In June 2006, he started The Vick Foundation with his brother Marcus and mother Brenda. This group helps young people in need with after-school programs. Their first fundraiser, the Michael Vick Golf Classic, raised over $80,000 for charity. The Michael Vick Foundation also gave backpacks to children and supported an after-school program.

After a sad event at Virginia Tech in 2007, Vick and the United Way donated $10,000 to help affected families. The Vick Foundation also collected donations to help with funeral costs and support services.

Images for kids

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  Vick as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in November 2006

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  Vick during a 2010 game vs. the Indianapolis Colts

See also

In Spanish: Michael Vick para niños

• List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders
• Dual-threat quarterback
• Racial issues faced by black quarterbacks
• List of left-handed quarterbacks