Michael Vick says he will be the new football coach at Norfolk State: NPR

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick throws the football before the NFL Pro Bowl football game Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick says he has accepted a head coaching position at Norfolk State University in Virginia.

“It is an honor to announce that I will be the new head coach of Norfolk State University … looking forward to coming home,” he said Tuesday. Facebook.

Vick is a native of Newport News, Virginia, about 30 miles north of Norfolk.

University officials did not confirm the deal Tuesday night, but that Virginian pilota newspaper between Norfolk and Newport News, reported that multiple sources said an introductory news conference would be held within a week.

Vick played college football at Virginia Tech where, as a redshirt freshman, he led the school to the college national title, losing to Florida State. In 2001, Vick became the first black quarterback to be drafted in the first round of the NFL when he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons.

He spent six seasons there, being selected to the Pro Bowl three times and leading his team to the NFC Championship game in 2004, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. His playing days were temporarily derailed from 2007 when he served almost two years in prison for dog fighting.

But after his release in 2009, he went on to play five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where in 2010 he he earned a fourth Pro Bowl selection and won Comeback Player of the Year. He later spent one season each with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

During his NFL career, he accumulated approx 28,000 total yards and 169 touchdowns. He retired in 2017 holding the all-time record for quarterback rushing yards with around 6,100.

He has since become an animal activist and analyst for Fox Sports.