Michael Vick is wrapping up his time as a member of the Fox NFL family as he begins a new chapter as the head coach of the Norfolk State Spartans football team.
Before he left, his Fox family had plenty of great advice and well-wishes for him.
If there’s anyone that Vick can learn from before taking over as the head coach of a college football program, it’s Jimmy Johnson. Before he won Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, Johnson won national titles with the Miami Hurricanes. And he had some sage advice for the new coach.
“No one wants to be ignored by the leader, and you’re the leader now.” @JimmyJohnson offers crucial advice to @MichaelVick as he gets ready to assume head coaching duties at @NorfolkStateFB. pic.twitter.com/hCTgZxDcWj
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 29, 2024
“Some of the advice that Jimmy gave me last week was some of the best advice, and I know because everybody’s been hitting me up, like, ‘You better do what Jimmy Johnson told you to do last week,’ Vick said. “Between coaches and just finding the right players, going on a diligent search and trying to do it right. And you know, Jimmy’s phone is gonna be ringing off the hook.”
Johnson imparted some more advice to Vick on how to run a program and be a leader.
“Great players make great coaches,” said Johnson. “To create the right kind of culture, you need everybody in the organization, every secretary, every backup offensive guard, everybody. And how you do that, you have interaction with everybody in the organization because no one likes to be ignored. And especially nobody likes to be ignored by the leader. And you’re the leader now.”
Johnson wasn’t the only head coach to offer up some well-wishes to Vick. Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, for whom Vick worked as an intern following his playing career, shared his thoughts via a recorded message.
“Man, is that school lucky to have you”
Andy Reid has a message for the new Norfolk State head coach, @MichaelVick pic.twitter.com/NzZWGz7VNH
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 29, 2024
“Man is that school lucky to have you,” Reid said to Vick. “You’re gonna do a great job. Those kids are fortunate to have you, probably most of all, to learn from. You’ll be awesome. You’ll be great for the university. I love ya and I know you’re gonna do a great job for them, so all the best going forward. I’m now a Norfolk fan.”
“I love that man to death,” said Vick afterward.
It’s safe to say a lot of people are rooting for Michael Vick as he starts a new journey with Norfolk State.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.