Michael Vick has four NFL Pro Bowl feathers in his hat. But little did he know that coaching would be an entirely different task. During his transition to a head coaching role at Norfolk State, he was counseled by none other than Deion Sanders. They share a common connection, after all.

“It’s always been a great relationship with Deion, dating back to when I was a player,” Vick told On3. “And so now it’s just grown as he’s grown as a man, as I’ve grown as a man, find ways to ask different questions and to communicate different. And so, being in the same situation, I can bounce ideas off of him, and he can throw some things at me."

In December 2024, Norfolk State named Vick as the head coach. For a debut head coach, it was indeed a tough job to guide a program that was limping at a 4-8 overall record. But Deion was his guiding force.

“And everything he told me in the beginning, before I got the job, has come true down to a T," Vick said.

Their bond runs deep because of their connections to the Atlanta Falcons. Even though Vick and Deion did not cross paths in the Falcons, both of them made similar impacts.

They selected Deion in the first round, No.5 pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. He made it to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro Team thrice. Similarly, Vick went off as the No.1 overall to Atlanta in 2001. He led them to the NFC Championship game in 2004.

Other than the Atlanta connection, they both started their head coaching jobs at an HBCU.

“So I trust his judgement, and hopefully I can do what he did as a coach for an HBCU, and that’s go out and win games and compete for a championship," said the Norfolk State head coach.

Under Deion, Jackson State went to the Southwestern Athletic Conference without a loss for two straight seasons. He held a record of 26-5.

To emulate Deion’s success at Norfolk State will be a tall order for head coach Vick. He already made a sacrifice to take up the role, but Deion stood by him as a pillar of support.

Deion Sanders' advice for Michael Vick after he made a sacrifice

After accepting the job at Norfolk State, Vick had to leave his family and his comfort zone behind in Florida.

“I probably cried to my mom a couple of times,” Vick said during his introductory speech at Norfolk.

Knowing that things would be tough for him, Deion made a call to Vick before he started coaching at Norfolk State. 

“Deion just told me, ‘You make it what you want it to be,’ and Deion further added, ‘You can’t be like me, you can’t be like this coach, you can’t be like that coach, so don’t call this person and ask how he does things. Make it what you want to be,” said Vick. 

So, Michael Vick, other than the Norfolk State fans, will now have to make Deion Sanders proud, too. Share your thoughts on whether he can flip the script after the 1-11 season.

Read more on Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar