Michael Vick

Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Regarded as having transformed the quarterback position with his rushing abilities, he is the NFL leader in quarterback rushing yards and was the league's first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Vick played college football at Virginia Tech, where he won the Archie Griffin Award as a freshman, and was selected first overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL Draft. During his six years with the Falcons, he was named to three Pro Bowls and led the team to two playoff runs, one division title, and an NFC Championship Game appearance.

Vick's NFL career came to a halt in 2007 after he pleaded guilty for his involvement in a dog fighting ring and spent 21 months in federal prison. Vick would start his sentence at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Va. However, he was later notified that by applying for a prison drug-rehab program, he would be able to shorten his sentence. He was then transferred to a United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. His arrest and subsequent conviction garnered Vick notoriety with the general public, which lasted throughout the rest of his career. He was released by the Falcons shortly before leaving prison.

After serving his sentence, Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2009 season. Andy Reid, who was the head coach of the Eagles at the time, decided that he wanted to give Michael Vick a second chance. Despite controversy from the public, the team moved forward with Vick which led them to success. As a member of the Eagles for five years, he enjoyed his greatest statistical season and led the team to a division title in 2010, earning him Comeback Player of the Year and a fourth Pro Bowl selection. In his final two seasons, Vick played for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, primarily as a backup. He officially retired in 2017 after spending the 2016 season as a free agent.