According to several reports, Norfolk State has decided to appoint former NFL quarterback Michael Vick as its new head coach.

ESPN has cited that Vick “has informed those close to him that he intends to accept” the position. The Virginian-Pilot was the first to report this development.

At 44 years old, Vick played college football at Virginia Tech before being drafted first overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL Draft. He subsequently played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers during his NFL career.

Vick, who has been a Fox Sports analyst since 2017, represents a bold choice for Norfolk State, which is situated near his hometown of Newport News, Virginia. It is noteworthy that Vick has never held a coaching position at any level. Reports also indicate that he was a contender for the head coach role at Sacramento State.

Nonetheless, having prior coaching experience is becoming less crucial for college programs seeking an immediate boost from a prominent hire. A notable example is Jackson State, which successfully brought in Deion Sanders despite his lack of college coaching experience, achieving a 27-6 record over three seasons before Sanders moved to a similar role at Colorado.

Vick is one of the most legendary quarterbacks in modern college football. He redshirted his first year but quickly made a name for himself, excelling in his two seasons as Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback. His statistics may not stand out by today’s measures — a total of 21 passing touchdowns, 17 rushing touchdowns, and 4,495 yards — yet he revolutionized the quarterback position with his unmatched speed, power, and athleticism.

After finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting as a redshirt freshman, he led the Hokies to the Bowl Championship Series title game in 1999, later declaring for the 2001 NFL Draft after his sophomore year. Vick made history as the first Black quarterback to be selected first overall.

During his time with the Atlanta Falcons, he was named to the Pro Bowl three times, came in second in MVP voting in 2004, and set numerous franchise and NFL records. Notably, he became the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and averaged a remarkable 8.4 yards per carry in 2006.

However, Vick’s career took a downward turn shortly after his prime. In August 2007, he pleaded guilty to his involvement in a dogfighting operation and was sentenced to just under two years in federal prison, resulting in an indefinite suspension from the NFL.

After being released from prison in 2009, Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. He served as the Eagles’ main starter from 2010-2012, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2010 with 3,018 passing yards and a career-best 21 touchdowns. His final season was spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015.