Former NFL Star Michael Vick Interviews for Norfolk State CFB HC Job

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick told David Teel and Michael Sauls of The Virginian-Pilot that he has interviewed for the head-coaching position at Norfolk State and expects a decision in the matter "soon."

"I know how to lead and I know what it takes," he added, saying that Norfolk State officials reached out to him about the position.

Vick has never coached but told Teel and Sauls he would bring aboard an experienced staff to aid him if he's hired.

He is originally from Newport News, about 35 minutes away from Norfolk State's campus.

Norfolk State's former head coach, Dawson Odums, was fired on Nov. 26 after going just 15-31 in parts of four seasons. Since 2012, the Spartans have had just one winning season, going 6-5 in 2021.

The team did post a 9-3 record in 2011, 6-5 record in 2010 and 7-4 record in 2009, but the NCAA stripped them of all of those wins after an investigation determined that the school's athletic department allowed 48 ineligible student-athletes to compete in a number of sports over a four-year period, including football.

As for Vick, the 44-year-old spent 13 seasons in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons (2001-06), Philadelphia Eagles (2009-13), New York Jets (2014) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2015), going 61-51-1 as a starting quarterback while reaching the postseason four times.

His career was halted for a two-year period in 2007-08 after he served 18 months in prison and two months in home confinement for financing a dog-fighting ring.

On the field, Vick was a four-time Pro Bowler, throwing for 22,464 yards, 133 touchdowns and 88 interceptions in his career, completing 56.2 percent of his passes. He was most famous for his electrifying scrambling ability, however, rushing for 6,109 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career.

He became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, achieving the milestone in 2006 (1,039 yards). The only other players to achieve that feat are Lamar Jackson (2019, 2020) and Justin Fields (2022).