Allen Iverson Opens Up About Michael Vick’s Norfolk State Coaching Job as He Recounts Past Ties

Allen Iverson has deep admiration and high regard for his fellow Newport News native. The two have been compared for the longest time. Despite both belonging to different sports and excelling in their own way and style, the careers of Iverson and the former NFL player have been compared. As the latter takes on an important role, Iverson shares a few warm words of praise and fondness for the football legend.

We are talking about Michael Vick. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Just recently, Norfolk State officially announced that Vick will be joining the program as the new head coach. Iverson, who hails from the same place as Vick, was asked about his thoughts on the new announcement. He was elated and proud of the retired NFL player.

“I love him so much, and I just know he deserve it. We come from the same area, and we understand each other because we went through similar lives. It’s hard making it from here and trying to get to where you want to go in life with all of the different distractions.”

“You want to go. And everything that come with trying to be somebody that you always wanted to be. And, when things happen in our lives as professionals, you can’t complain, man, because you signed up for it,” Iverson noted.

When asked about his relationship with the former NFL player, he said, “That’s the little homie, man. I love Mike. We always had a great relationship. And I think that’s important. Especially from him being younger than me.”

“And when you got people that want you to choose size and stuff. We root for each other. He loved me. I love him. We always had a genuine relationship like that. And I think that’s a positive reflection to these young kids,” Iverson said. 

Allen Iverson was great at football as well, but ultimately chose basketball and entered the NBA. He was drafted as the No. 1 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, while the newly appointed head coach was drafted as the No. 1 pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. No wonder both players were compared to each other, even toward the end of their careers.

Michael Vick and Allen Iverson often got compared to each other

Both had ups and downs. Back in the 2008-09 season, ‘The Answer’ didn’t accept a reserve role. Following that, he joined the Memphis Grizzlies, where he was asked to come off the bench. Allen refused. And he was waived after three games.

On the other hand, when Vick was struggling with his hamstring injury, he accepted the change in his starting quarterback role. Even this time, their careers were compared. And watching his fellow make such an impressive feat, Iverson is nothing but proud.

Vick has been the analyst for Fox’s NFL pregame since 2017. So, when he had to address this important part of his career, he chose this show. The former NFL player couldn’t control his emotions as his fellow analysts Charissa Thompson, Charles Woodson, Julian Edelman, and more congratulated him on the new role.

It’s a big step for the team as well as the coach. “First off, just, being a big part of Fox Sports and the opportunity. I love you guys, I love everybody in this building. And this administration have been amazing to me,” Vick said. 

“This wasn’t easy, bittersweet, but when you got a chance to go, get an opportunity to go lead young men in your community, where I grew up, y’know watching this team, and I wanted them to be assured that they wanted me as the head coach with no [coaching] experience. But I got what it takes, I got the right people around me, and I’m ready to embark on a new journey,” he detailed as he wiped off tears. It’s a new beginning for the retired NFL player.