Michael Vick is an American former professional football player and is considered to be one of greatest players of all time. Known for having revolutionized the position of a quarterback in the NFL, Vick has set the standard for future quarterbacks. He is amongst the best rushing quarterbacks. A testament to this is the fact that he is the all time leading rusher amongst quarterbacks in NFL history.
Vick was born on June 26, 1980 in Newport News, Virginia, United States. His journey from a large family which had no athletic background to being a star in the NFL is living proof of the benefits of hard work and perseverance. Vick started to play football around the age of 3. From a very young age, Vick was known for his speed.
At high school, Vick impressed scouts with his impeccable athleticism. He played at Ferguson High School and Warwick High School. As a star high school quarterback, Vick was very successful recording almost 5,000 passing yards and 43 touchdowns.
Vick came out of high school and transitioned into his football journey at Virginia Tech. He played just two years of college football but this short time period was enough to put Vick on the map of scouts and NFL teams. Fans and analysts were in awe of his athleticism which allowed him to be versatile with using his arms and legs. He was crucial as a leader for the Virgina team, guiding them to an undefeated season in 2000 until the Championship game. Among several records and accolades that he won during his college football career, the most valuable are considered to be him being named as Big East Offensive Player of the Year twice and finishing third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Michael Vick declared for the NFL draft after his sophomore year in college. After a successful college career and proving to be a one-of-a-kind quarterback, he was drafted as the 1st overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001. Over a 15 year career in the NFL, Vick played for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. As one of the greats of the game, he secured many records and accolades. Some of these include:
Most career rushing yards by a quarterback
Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season
First quarterback in NFL history to rush over 1,000 yards in one season
Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game
Pro Bowl selections - 4
NFL Comeback player of the year - 2010
Bert Bell Award - 2010
Nominee of Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year
Where Did Michael Vick Go To Prison?
Michael Vick spent his prison term at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was found guilty in 2007 for being involved in an organized dog fighting operation based on his property. He was sentenced to prison for a period of 23 months starting in January, 2008. However, he spent just 5 months at the Penitentiary as he was transferred to a minimum security property to serve the rest of his prison sentence term.
This scandal had a significant impact on Michael Vick’s NFL career. He ended up missing two full NFL seasons, a portion during which he could have added to his legacy as a historical figure in the NFL. Eventually, he returned to the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and continued to have a very successful career.
Looking back at the career and journey of Michael Vick along with many issues that took place off court, it is undeniable that he has had a significant impact on the game of football.
FAQs
A. Michael Vick is not in the Hall of Fame. After the scandal that sent him to prison, his reputation was completely tarnished. This is one of the reasons as to why he might never be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A. Despite having played in the league for 15 years at the highest level, Michael Vick has never won the Super Bowl. In spite of this, he has gone down as one of the NFL’s greatest players specially known for having revolutionized the quarterback position.
A. Yes, Michael Vick did go to jail. He was sentenced to 23 months of prison time which he served, starting in January, 2008.
A. Michael Vick was born on June 26, 1980. As of August 2023, Vick is 43 years old.
A. Michael Vick went to jail as he was found guilty of running organized dogfighting and drug programs on his property. He was sentenced to 23 months of prison time.
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