There was a time when Michael Vick was the future of the NFL. Let us not forget he was the first black QB to be drafted No. 1. He knew he changed the game, but his involvement in a deadly dogfighting ring in 2007 halted him from achieving greatness. He served his time, but that didn’t wash away the stains. “S—, it hurt [my chances of] going in the Hall of Fame,” he said in 2021. He ultimately retired in 2017, without an MVP award or a Super Bowl ring, though he played in the NFL for years after serving 18 months.

But he never went into hiding. Instead, when life offered him another chance to engage with the sport he loved, he grabbed it. In 2017, he joined Fox as an analyst for FOX NFL KICKOFF, which is an hour-long pregame show airing on Sundays. This left him exposed to criticism about his past and also his takes on the show.

For instance, one of his controversial opinions came on FS1’s Speak For Yourself in 2017, when he stated, “First thing we got to get Colin to do is cut his hair. Listen, I’m not up here to try to be politically correct, but even if he puts cornrows in it, I don’t think he should represent himself that way in terms of just a hairstyle. Just go clean cut,” in reference to Kaepernick not having a team.

On the other hand, he also had some great moments, wherein his expert analysis and insights were well-received by the audience. But not anymore…

This Sunday, the Fox NFL Sunday crew’s segment with Michael Vick was all tears and sniffles. It was one of those bittersweet moments as they got ready to say goodbye to one of their own. Vick is off to Norfolk State University to take on a coaching role and, of course, his colleague, Charissa Thompson, was sad to see him leave. Yet, she wasn’t about to let the moment get too heavy. She had to throw in a little something to keep things light and fun.

After the segment wrapped up, Charissa Thompson posted an Instagram story, jokingly calling out, “Blow the whistle!” It wasn’t just a playful nod to Vick’s new coaching gig, it was a reminder of how tight-knit the Fox crew really is. We all knew how Thompson’s humor lightens the mood every time. She made sure the farewell wasn’t just emotional but also full of good vibes.

It wasn’t all jokes, though. As the tears dried, fans knew this wasn’t just a goodbye—it was a ‘see you soon‘ to a friend. Vick was tearing up, trying to hold it together, and you could see how much he meant to the crew. It felt like leaving school on the last day: excited about what’s next but morose about the change.

But Michael Vick’s journey? It’s so much more than football. Once the highest-paid player and a 4-time Pro Bowler, he is now all about giving back. His emotional farewell hit deep when he 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 is not just coaching; he is going back to his roots to inspire the next wave. That’s a real heart right there.

As Vick steps into his new role at Norfolk State, his fans are rooting for him. The Fox crew showed love and support, with laughs and real emotion. It was a celebration of his future and a legendary coach even dropped some serious knowledge that can help Vick. It was a ‘passing the torch’ moment.

Michael Vick: A Whistle, wisdom, and a legacy passed!

Michael Vick’s new gig came with a pretty awesome moment on-air. And when I say awesome, I’m not kidding. NFL legend Jimmy Johnson straight-up handed him a coach’s whistle, officially making it all real. Talk about passing the torch in style!

Jimmy, being the total pro he is, didn’t just stop at the whistle. He hit Vick with some straight-up coaching wisdom: “Number one, professional football is coaching, college football is recruiting. That’s the key. Get in the best players.”

“The second thing is keep it simple, because you’re going to have a lot of changes with your players. Lot of changes with you staff. Keep it simple. Success is who makes the fewest mistakes, not who makes the most great plays.” Honestly, this advice is solid for anyone thinking about coaching. Fewer mistakes, more wins, as simple as that.

Jimmy Johnson also dropped this gem: “Have some interactions because no one likes to be ignored. But especially, no one wants to be ignored by the leader.” This little piece of wisdom shows just how much experience Johnson has got under his belt, and it pretty much sums up his whole career. It is solid advice, not just for Vick but for anyone who’s thinking about becoming a coach, whether that’s you, me, or anyone else.

So you see, this wasn’t just a farewell—it was a testament to the unwavering support he got from his crew. Now, the big question is: What kind of changes will we see, and how will Vick’s career unfold from here? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—his journey is far from over.