Michael Vick Seeks Advice From Deion Sanders as He Struggles in First Year as Norfolk State Coach

Vick posts clip asking Sanders for help with attitude issues on his team as he looks to turn around the struggling Spartans program.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 9:47am

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Norfolk State Spartans head coach Michael Vick, who is in his first year leading the program, posted a clip on X (formerly Twitter) asking Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders for advice on how to address attitude issues within his team. Vick's first season as Norfolk State's coach has been challenging, as the team finished 1-11 overall and 0-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In the clip, Vick tells Sanders that his "day-to-day has been exhausting" and that he has "kids with attitude issues." Sanders, who also started his coaching career at an FCS program before moving to the FBS, tells Vick that he warned him about the challenges he would face and that he is praying for him.

Why it matters

Vick's struggles in his first year as Norfolk State's head coach highlight the challenges that former NFL stars can face when transitioning to the college coaching ranks, even at the FCS level. Vick's relationship with Sanders, who has also made the jump from the NFL to college coaching, provides an interesting mentorship dynamic as both navigate the unique challenges of leading a program.

The details

In his first season as Norfolk State's head coach, Vick led the Spartans to a 1-11 overall record and 0-5 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Vick's experience as Norfolk State's coach was chronicled in a BET series titled 'The Coach Vick Experience.' In a clip from the series posted on X, Vick is seen asking Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes head coach, for advice on how to address attitude issues within his team, saying his "day-to-day has been exhausting" and that he has "kids with attitude issues." Sanders, who also started his coaching career at an FCS program (Jackson State) before moving to the FBS with Colorado, tells Vick that he warned him about the challenges he would face and that he is praying for him.

  • Vick just completed his first season as Norfolk State's head coach.
  • The BET series 'The Coach Vick Experience' chronicling Vick's first season aired on Wednesday.
  • Vick posted the clip asking Deion Sanders for advice on Thursday.

The players

Michael Vick

The head coach of the Norfolk State Spartans, who is in his first season leading the program after a legendary NFL career.

Deion Sanders

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, who also started his college coaching career at an FCS program (Jackson State) before moving to the FBS.

Shedeur Sanders

The son of Deion Sanders, who revealed that he seeks advice from Michael Vick on navigating the NFL.

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What they’re saying

“I really needed to talk to you. My day-to-day has been exhausting. I got kids with attitude issues. I catch myself at times wondering if Coach went through this. Just trying to follow in your footsteps, man. You know what you mean to me and I'll be thinking about you when I take that field.”

— Michael Vick, Norfolk State Head Coach

“I told you I went through all of that. I told you what you was getting ready to run into. What you've gone through in your life, please. Come on, man. I'm praying for you, I'm praying with you. This is gonna be the first of many.”

— Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes Head Coach

“Mike Vick, I talk to him often, and I talked to him a lot during this year. Just about everything. And he has always been a great resource for me, in a great way, just to have somebody to talk to … I talk to people when it feels like it's right to talk to them. Everybody is living their own individual life.”

— Shedeur Sanders

What’s next

Vick will look to build on the lessons he has learned from his first season and continue to seek guidance from Deion Sanders as he works to turn around the Norfolk State program.

The takeaway

The relationship between Michael Vick and Deion Sanders highlights the challenges that former NFL stars can face when transitioning to college coaching, even at the FCS level, and the value of having experienced mentors to provide guidance and support during the process.