Why Michael Vick Becoming An NCAA Head Coach Is Important

It’s a new year that’s off to a positive start in the sports world. NFL great Michael Vick is becoming a college head coach. He’ll be coaching the young men of Norfolk State University in his hometown of Virginia. In what can only be seen as kismet, Vick has an opportunity to impact young Black men like he never has before. It’s a testament to the success of his redemption story and what it means to truly grow.

There was a period of time where Vick was a polarizing figure in the NFL, hell, in all of sports. Once, the most dynamic and exciting quarterback in the league, he was busted for participating in a dogfighting ring. With that being an illegal offense, the former Pro-Bowler had to not only pay his debt to society, but also answer to animal rights groups as to why he’d even participate in such a thing. Vick served 21 months in a federal prison. The once lauded superstar became a black eye on the league that he loved. When you then add the racial components to this happening to a Black quarterback in America’s sport, what followed were some of the harshest criticisms we’ve ever seen. Some of those were well earned, for the record. But it took a lot of work to get past it.

When Vick did get opportunities with the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets, it came with much protest. Every game was heavily scrutinized, but he soldiered on, knowing that he was not his mistakes. In what could only be characterized as sweat equity, Vick made it his business to show that he in fact was a changed person.

Not only did he seek to be accountable on the field but off of it as well. He worked with animal rights activists to make up for the errors of his ways, as well as bring much needed awareness to their causes. These gestures of goodwill eventually led to Vick landing analyst work with Fox after his retirement. He has been heraldic for his work there for his great knowledge of the game. It’s that knowledge that he will impart at Norfolk.

Vick’s role as a head coach will go far beyond what goes down on the field. Functioning as a head coach in these young men’s lives as some are getting ready to enter the same world of sports he was in is so integral. Who better to get your game from than him? As head coach, Vick can really get these players to understand what to be careful of off of the field. I can imagine that was certainly a huge appeal of this opportunity for him as well.

I’m excited for this new journey for him, anyone with sense would be too. The message it sends to us all is what the benefits truly are when we commit genuinely to what we believe our callings are.