"There's only one Deion Sanders": New Norfolk state coach Michael Vick makes eye-catching remarks about Coach Prime

Michael Vick might be following in Deion Sanders’ footsteps by joining an HBCU school to launch his college coaching career. The former quarterback, however, has shut down any comparison between himself and the Colorado Buffaloes’ coach.

During his introduction as the new Norfolk State coach on Monday, Vick said there's no comparison for Coach Prime and he will look to make his own way.

“A lot of people ask ‘Are you gonna be the next Deion Sanders?’ And I’m quick to tell them: ‘No, there is only one Deion Sanders,’" the former Virginia Tech quarterback said. "You know, his soul, his spirit, the way God created him. He created an amazing man. And Deion is Deion, but I’m Michael Vick.”

That doesn’t mean Vick doesn’t respect Sanders, whose first head coaching job came at Jackson State. Vick said he has looked to Coach Prime for advice.

“The first person I reached out to was Deion Sanders because he is a mentor," Vick said. "We talked about it last year, and Deion was like, ‘I don’t know what you are waiting for; you might as well go ahead and get to it.”

Sanders has also been complimentary of Vick. Other coaches Vick has talked to include the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid. He played for both during his NFL career.

The former Falcons quarterback will replace Dawson Odums, who had a 15-31 record at Norfolk State.

One reason Vick was considered for the position is his closeness to the region. He grew up in Newport News, about 30 minutes from the Norfolk State campus. Vick said he attended Spartans games while playing youth football.

What is Michael Vick’s football experience?

Contrary to Deion Sanders, Michael Vick has no high school coaching experience when starting as a college coach. He does, however, have plenty of experience playing at different levels.

Vick played college football in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech. In the NFL, the former quarterback was drafted first by the Atlanta Falcons. He also wore the Philadelphia Eagles', Pittsburgh Steelers' and New York Jets' colors.

He was selected three times to the Pro Bowl in his time in Atlanta, but legal troubles derailed his career. In 2007, he was convicted for being involved in a dogfighting ring. He served 21 months in a federal prison.

Norfolk State has struggled recently. The Spartans have had five winning seasons since 1997. Their last winning season came in 2021, with a 6-5 record.

Following his retirement from the NFL in 2017, he has been a football analyst at Fox Sports and an animal rights activist.