Even with the spring football window closed, Michael Vick isn’t slowing down. The former NFL MVP, who was the first QB to ever rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, has now turned his focus toward building something special at Norfolk State. As a first-time head coach, he’s busy laying the foundation. And he hopes this program will thrive in the rough-and-tumble world of HBCU football. Just before the grind of Fall camp, Vick took a moment to relive old times, lacing up his cleats for some laughs and touchdowns with the FOX NFL crew.
To celebrate the NFL’s move to allow players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Olympics, FOX aired a throwback segment where their set was transformed into a sandlot. That nostalgic moment was reshared on Michael Vick’s IG story, back from his FOX Sports analyst days. Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Jay Glazer, Michael Strahan, Charles Woodson, and Michael Vick suited up for an impromptu flag football showdown. Vick, Woodson, and Edelman repped the white team, while Gronk, Strahan, Glazer, and the rest rolled in black. Starting from midfield, the white team went on the offensive—and that’s when the real comedy and chaos unfolded.
The in-play commentary was pure gold. Right out of the gate, Edelman snagged a pick-six with flair. “Edelman with the interception and takes it all the way back. Okay, one more play for the team in black.” Then came Terry Bradshaw’s masterclass in old-school football strategy—except it wasn’t exactly top secret.
Whispering to his squad, he said, “You come from the left to the right corner. You come from the right to the left corner. You go straight down the middle.” Woodson didn’t skip a beat: “You realize we can hear you, right?” The banter was as sharp as their cuts on the field.
On the very next play, déjà vu. “Another pick by Edelman. You know what? If you keep throwing interceptions, then the flag doesn’t matter.” That set the tone for a stretch of domination.
The white team flipped the field, and Michael Vick took over at quarterback. “You’re up by two scores already. The flags don’t matter if you throw picks,” someone shouted, right before a bit of trickery. “Oh, trickeration. Edelman. Oh, nobody got the ball.” Bradshaw managed to pull the flag at the two-yard line, but it was all white team momentum from there.
The mic’d-up madness continued as the blue team realized they were in deep. “Run it right from here. Here we go. Your second play. Edelman. Right from the tee. Here we go.” The trick plays started to feel like déjà vu. “Did you notice they took our play? Did you see they took our play?” The Black Squad barked, scrambling to adjust. “All right, don’t let them score. Cover four. Cover four.” With a loud “Blue 80, Blue 80, hut!” came the finale—a little tush push and more chaos than coordination.
When it was all said and done, Edelman had two defensive touchdowns, and Vick managed to flash some of that old magic. “I think the team in white dominated. It doesn’t matter. They got the two defensive touchdowns. Dominant performance by Julian Edelman,” the crew laughed as they wrapped the showdown. But beneath all the fun, it was also a look into Vick’s current mindset—competitive, energized, and focused. While he might not be running for 60-yard scores anymore, Vick is channeling that fire into Norfolk State.
Michael Vick bolsters Norfolk State’s defense before debut
Past is in the rearview. When Michael Vick returned to William “Dick” Price Stadium for the spring game, it felt like a hero’s homecoming, transforming the Norfolk State program into the place to be. The event drew an all-star crowd, including Allen Iverson, Tyrod Taylor, Keyshawn Davis, and even local politicians, making it feel more like a premiere than a typical MEAC football event.
Now, Vick is officially shifting gears—prepping Norfolk State for his real football debut this fall. He and his staff are building their roster like they mean business, especially on the defensive side. This week, the Spartans added two experienced playmakers: safety Tyler Jones and LB Kendric Nowling.
Nowling, who’s coming off a solid career at Eastern Michigan, brings veteran leadership and toughness. As a redshirt senior in 2024, he suited up for 10 games, racking up 12 tackles, including a season-high three solo stops in a strong showing against Saint Francis. Safe to say, he knows how to fly to the ball.
Then there’s Jones, a steady contributor from Northern Arizona, who played in all 13 games last year. He logged eight tackles, including an assisted tackle for loss, and adds depth and experience to the Spartans’ secondary.
Interestingly, Vick’s first signing class includes only 11 high school players—the rest are transfers, with 11 of them coming from other HBCU programs. Vick’s looking to win now, and he’s loading up fast for a battle-tested MEAC season.
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