Michael Vick

Michael Dwayne Vick
Born:	June 26, 1980 Newport News, Virginia
Charges:	Conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, Sponsoring a dog in an animal fighting venture
Sentence:	23 months
Facility:	USP Leavenworth
Status:	Released (2009)

Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980) is an American former NFL quarterback and current college football head coach who served 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to federal felony charges related to his financing and operation of an interstate dogfighting ring known as "Bad Newz Kennels."

Vick, who had been one of the NFL's highest-paid and most electrifying players as the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, pleaded guilty in August 2007 to conspiracy charges after a federal investigation uncovered a dogfighting operation on property he owned in Virginia. He was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison, at the high end of sentencing guidelines, after the judge determined that Vick had lied during the investigation about his direct involvement in killing underperforming dogs.

The case generated intense public outrage and became a watershed moment in raising awareness about animal cruelty. After serving his sentence, Vick made a remarkable NFL comeback with the Philadelphia Eagles, earning the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. He retired from professional football in 2017 with 6,109 career rushing yards—still the most by any quarterback in NFL history. In December 2024, Vick was named head football coach at Norfolk State University, returning to his native Virginia to lead the HBCU's football program.

Summary

Michael Vick's dogfighting case shocked the sports world and the general public, exposing the brutal underground world of animal fighting that many Americans had little awareness of. The investigation revealed that Vick had bankrolled and participated in a dogfighting operation for years, even as he was earning tens of millions of dollars as one of the NFL's most marketable stars. The case sparked intense debates about criminal justice, second chances, and the relationship between professional sports and personal conduct.

What made Vick's case particularly damaging was not just the dogfighting itself but the evidence of direct cruelty. Court documents detailed how dogs that performed poorly in fights were executed by various methods including drowning, hanging, and electrocution. Vick initially denied personal involvement in these killings, but evidence—including a failed lie detector test—convinced the sentencing judge that Vick had lied about his direct participation, resulting in a sentence at the high end of guidelines.

Vick's post-prison life has been defined by both professional success and continued controversy. Supporters argue that he served his sentence, expressed genuine remorse, and partnered with animal welfare organizations to speak against dogfighting. Critics maintain that his crimes were so heinous that he should not have been welcomed back to professional sports or public life. The 47 dogs rehabilitated from his property—known as the "Vicktory dogs"—became symbols of resilience and helped change national policy on how dogfighting victims are treated.

Background

Rise to NFL Stardom

Michael Dwayne Vick was born on June 26, 1980, in Newport News, Virginia. He attended Virginia Tech, where he became one of the most exciting college football players in the country, leading the Hokies to an undefeated regular season and national championship appearance during his redshirt freshman year. He finished third in the 2000 Heisman Trophy voting. The Atlanta Falcons selected Vick with the first overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft—the first African-American quarterback to be taken first overall.

Vick quickly became one of the NFL's most dynamic players, combining a powerful arm with unprecedented rushing ability for a quarterback. His electrifying playing style made him one of the league's most marketable stars, and in 2004 he signed a 10-year, $130 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history at that time. He was selected to three Pro Bowls during his time with the Falcons.

Bad Newz Kennels

While building his NFL career, Vick was simultaneously involved in an interstate dogfighting operation. The operation, known as "Bad Newz Kennels," was based on property Vick owned in Surry County, Virginia. The enterprise bred, trained, and fought pit bulls in matches that attracted gamblers from multiple states.

The operation came to light in April 2007 when authorities investigating a drug case searched the Virginia property and discovered evidence of dogfighting, including fighting pits, training equipment, and numerous pit bulls. The discovery triggered a federal investigation that would end Vick's career with the Falcons and send him to prison.

Indictment, Prosecution, and Sentencing

Federal Investigation

Federal authorities investigated the Bad Newz Kennels operation throughout the spring and summer of 2007. Three of Vick's associates—Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips, and Tony Taylor—were also implicated. Taylor quickly agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, providing detailed information about Vick's involvement.

The investigation revealed that Bad Newz Kennels had operated from approximately 2002 through 2007. Dogs were trained for fighting, matched against dogs from other operations, and subjected to various cruelties. Dogs that lost fights or showed insufficient aggression were killed. The investigation documented specific instances of executions by drowning, hanging, electrocution, and other methods.

Indictment and Guilty Plea

On July 17, 2007, Vick and his three associates were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and sponsoring a dog in an animal fighting venture. Vick initially proclaimed his innocence, but as his co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate, his position became untenable.

On August 27, 2007, Vick pleaded guilty to the federal charges, admitting that he had been involved in the dogfighting conspiracy and had funded the operation. In connection with his plea, the Atlanta Falcons released him, and the NFL suspended him indefinitely.

Sentencing

On December 10, 2007, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson sentenced Vick to 23 months in federal prison—at the high end of the 12-to-18-month range suggested by federal sentencing guidelines. The judge imposed the harsher sentence because he concluded that Vick had lied about his direct involvement in killing dogs.

Evidence supporting the judge's conclusion included a failed polygraph test administered to Vick after his guilty plea and testimony from his co-defendants about his direct participation in executing dogs. The judge found that Vick had not fully accepted responsibility for his actions, warranting a more severe sentence than he might otherwise have received.

Vick was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his incarceration, which prohibited him from owning or having contact with dogs except in connection with humane organizations. As part of his plea agreement, he placed nearly $1 million in restitution into a fund to care for and rehabilitate the animals seized from his property.

State Charges

In addition to his federal sentence, Vick faced state charges in Virginia. In November 2008, he appeared before a Virginia state court and pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of dogfighting. He received a three-year suspended sentence conditioned on good behavior and was fined $2,500. This sentence ran concurrently with his remaining federal supervision.

Prison Experience

Vick began serving his federal sentence at USP Leavenworth in Kansas on November 19, 2007. He was later transferred to other facilities and eventually moved to a halfway house in Virginia to complete his sentence.

During his incarceration, Vick declared bankruptcy, revealing debts of approximately $20 million despite having earned over $100 million during his NFL career. His financial troubles were attributed to mismanagement, legal fees, and the consequences of his conviction.

Vick served 21 months of his 23-month sentence before being released to home confinement in May 2009. He completed his home confinement in July 2009.

NFL Comeback

Signing with Philadelphia

Shortly after completing his sentence, Vick signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on August 13, 2009. The signing was controversial, with animal rights organizations protesting and some fans expressing outrage. The Eagles organization defended the decision as providing a second chance to someone who had served his sentence and expressed remorse.

Return to Stardom

Vick's comeback exceeded expectations. After serving as a backup in 2009, he became the Eagles' starting quarterback in 2010 and had one of the best seasons of his career. He passed for 3,018 yards with 21 touchdowns and ran for 676 yards with 9 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl selection and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. His 2010 performance demonstrated that he could still compete at the highest level.

Vick continued as the Eagles' starting quarterback through 2013, signing a six-year, $100 million contract in 2011. He later played for the New York Jets (2014) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2015) before becoming a free agent.

Retirement

After not signing with a team during the 2016 season, Vick officially announced his retirement from professional football on February 3, 2017. On June 12, 2017, he formally retired as an Atlanta Falcon in a ceremony at the team's facility. His 13-year NFL career included four Pro Bowl selections, and his 6,109 career rushing yards remains the most by any quarterback in NFL history.

Life After Football

Broadcasting Career

Following his retirement, Vick joined FOX Sports in 2017 as an analyst for FOX NFL Kickoff, the network's pregame show. He contributed to NFL coverage across various studio programs for several years.

Coaching Path

Vick pursued coaching opportunities after retiring as a player. During the 2017 training camp, he served as a coaching intern with the Kansas City Chiefs under his former coach Andy Reid. In 2018, he was initially hired as offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football, though he was later reassigned to a consultant role before the season began.

Norfolk State Head Coach

On December 20, 2024, Norfolk State University announced Vick as its 19th head football coach. The hiring brought Vick back to his native Hampton Roads region to lead the HBCU program. He signed a four-year contract with a base salary of $400,000—the highest for a head coach in NSU history.

Vick's first season in 2025 proved challenging, with Norfolk State finishing 1-10 and enduring a nine-game losing streak. Despite the difficult start, Vick remained optimistic about building the program, noting the experience of battling each week with his team and looking toward future improvement.

The Vicktory Dogs

One of the most significant legacies of Vick's case is what happened to the dogs seized from Bad Newz Kennels. Of the 49 pit bulls recovered from the property, only one was deemed behaviorally unfit for rehabilitation and recommended for euthanasia. The remaining 47 dogs were placed with eight different rescue organizations.

Twenty-two of the most difficult cases went to Best Friends Animal Society's sanctuary in Utah, where they became known as the "Vicktory dogs." Many of these dogs were eventually rehabilitated and adopted as family pets. Their remarkable recovery demonstrated that dogs used in fighting could be rehabilitated rather than automatically destroyed.

The Vicktory dogs' story was documented in the award-winning 2015 film "The Champions," directed by Darcy Dennett. The documentary followed several of the dogs through their rehabilitation and into their new lives, becoming a powerful advocacy tool for changing how dogfighting victims are treated.

The case helped transform national policy on dogfighting rescues. Before the Vick case, dogs seized from fighting operations were typically treated as evidence and euthanized. The successful rehabilitation of the Vicktory dogs helped establish the precedent that these animals should be individually evaluated. Five states, including California, have since enacted legislation ending the automatic killing of dogs rescued from fighting rings.

In His Own Words

Vick has spoken publicly about his crimes, prison experience, and efforts at redemption on numerous occasions:

On accepting responsibility:

"I was wrong for what I did. And I was wrong for not putting a stop to it sooner, when I should have. It was my fault, and I can't blame nobody but myself."

On his time in prison:

"Prison was the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to look in the mirror and realize who I was. I had become someone I didn't recognize."

On the dogs he harmed:

"I understand now that dogfighting is a terrible thing. What I did was wrong. I deeply regret my role in what happened."

On second chances:

"I'm not asking people to forget what I did. I just want them to see that I've changed, that I've grown, and that I'm committed to making sure other young people don't make the same mistakes."

On speaking to young people:

"When I go into schools and I talk to kids, I tell them that I lost everything—my career, my money, my freedom, my reputation—because of dogfighting. I tell them it's not worth it. There's nothing cool about it."

Animal Welfare Work

As part of his rehabilitation efforts, Vick partnered with the Humane Society of the United States to speak out against dogfighting. He appeared at schools and community events to discuss the consequences of animal cruelty and encourage young people to reject dogfighting culture.

These efforts remain controversial. Some animal rights activists accept his partnership with humane organizations as genuine, while others argue that the nature of his crimes—inflicting prolonged suffering on animals—should permanently disqualify him from public rehabilitation. His continued prominence as a coach and public figure ensures the debate about forgiveness and second chances remains active.

Terminology

• Dogfighting: The practice of staging fights between dogs for entertainment or gambling, a felony in all 50 states and a federal crime when conducted across state lines.

• Interstate Commerce: Commercial activity that crosses state lines, giving the federal government jurisdiction over otherwise local matters.

• Bad Newz Kennels: The name of the dogfighting operation financed and operated by Vick and his associates from 2002 to 2007.

• Vicktory Dogs: The collective name given to the pit bulls rehabilitated from Vick's dogfighting operation, particularly those placed at Best Friends Animal Society.

See also

• Supervised Release
• Federal Prison Designation
• Federal Prison Facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Michael Vick go to prison?

Vick was sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting operation called Bad Newz Kennels at his property in Virginia. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to financing and operating the interstate dogfighting ring.

Q: How long was Michael Vick's sentence?

Vick was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison and served 21 months before being released to home confinement in May 2009.

Q: Did Michael Vick return to the NFL after prison?

Yes, Vick returned to the NFL in 2009 with the Philadelphia Eagles, earned Comeback Player of the Year in 2010, and played until retiring in February 2017.

Q: Where did Michael Vick serve his sentence?

Vick served his sentence at USP Leavenworth in Kansas before transferring to a halfway house in Virginia.

Q: What happened to the dogs rescued from Michael Vick?

Of 49 pit bulls seized, 47 were rehabilitated. Known as the "Vicktory dogs," many were adopted as pets. Their story, told in the documentary "The Champions," helped change policy so dogfighting victims are now individually evaluated rather than automatically euthanized.

Q: What is Michael Vick doing now?

Vick is the head football coach at Norfolk State University, an HBCU in his native Virginia. He was hired in December 2024 after previously working as a FOX Sports NFL analyst.

Q: Has Michael Vick worked on animal welfare since prison?

Yes, Vick partnered with the Humane Society of the United States to speak against dogfighting at schools and community events, though animal rights activists remain divided on his sincerity.