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Michael Vick is the greatest running quarterback in NFL history and it's not particularly close.
Vick was one of the greatest athletes the NFL has ever seen. He completely changed the game, especially for quarterbacks. He inspired a generation of mobile quarterbacks, including the likes of Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson.
Despite never winning a Super Bowl in 15 career seasons, he was one of the most feared players with the ball in his hands. The fact that he changed the game with his legs is one of the many reasons why he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here are three others:
Why Michael Vick deserves a Hall of Fame mention
#1. His numbers speak for themselves
Michael Vick has some of the most unreal numbers that have ever been produced on a football field. He set the NFL record for most career rushing yards (6,109). This is a better mark than former NFL stars such as Reggie Bush, Todd Gurley and Mike Alstott.
Vick also has the best-ever NFL mark for yards-per-carry (7.0). He had six career seasons with at least 500 rushing yards. In 14 of his 15 career seasons, he averaged over 5.0 yards per attempt (Pro Football Reference).
In other words, he is one of the most electric and productive runners in the history of the sport. He is the most prolific running quarterback ever. That alone should put him in Canton.
#2. His passing game is often overlooked
The former Virginia Tech Hokie will always be remembered for the way he used his legs. However, his arm power was very underrated throughout his career.
Vick finished his career with 22,464 passing yards. That is a higher output than the likes of Hall of Famers Sammy Baugh and Sid Luckman. He has a higher yards-per-attempt average than Hall of Famers George Blanda and Tom Flores, and is tied with Hall of Famer Troy Aikman (7.0). Vick has a better career passer rating than Hall of Famers John Elway, Johnny Unitas and Terry Bradshaw (80.4).
Don't confuse Vick with Brett Favre when it comes to career passing yards. Don't confuse Vick with Tom Brady when it comes to total career passing marks. But to say his arm talent and passing stats were below average simply isn't true. He has Hall of Fame numbers on the ground and through the air.
#3. Solid career portfolio
The Virginia native is not a 10-time Pro-Bowler with multiple MVPs to his name. However, he has some very solid notches on his career belt. Vick was named to the Pro Bowl four different times. For context, that is the same amount as Hall of Famer Bart Starr and more than Hall of Famer Joe Namath.
Vick was also a member of three separate franchises who made the playoffs (Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers). These teams were always in contention to make a run, regardless of whether he was the starter or not. He is also a Bert Bell Award winner and a former Comeback Player of the Year (2010).
It is very clear that Michael Vick had a career that most quarterbacks dream about. He completely changed the game on the ground and proved his talent through the air as well. His numbers and his NFL bio speak for themselves, but Michael Vick will almost certainly never make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Vick's property was searched in 2007 and police found evidence of a dog fighting ring over 70 dogs during their search. The fighting ring was known as 'Bad Newz Kennels' and run by Vick, who reportedly hosted unlawful gambling and drug activities.
Vick and three others were charged with federal offense conspiracy. Vick spent 548 days behind bars and missed two years out of his NFL career. Given the fallout from the scandal, there was some doubt that he would ever return to the field.
While he made it back to the NFL, Michael Vick's legacy was tarnished, with the fighting ring leaving an indelible stain on his record. That's why he won't be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
