Watch the full interview now as a VladTV Youtube Member: Click Here
Part 5: Michael Vick Almost Left Football After Getting $25K Offer to Play Major League Baseball
Part 3: Michael Vick on Meeting Allen Iverson at 14, AI Calling Him the Football Version of Himself
Part 1: Michael Vick on Growing Up in "Newport Nam", Seeing Dead Cab Driver at Age 11
--------
Retired NFL quarterback Michael Vick shared his personal journey navigating a historically racially biased sports league. He revealed that despite his stellar performances in high school football games, he remained uncertain about his future as a professional quarterback. His uncertainty originated from the prevalent exclusion of Black players from the quarterback position in the NFL due to racial biases. Vick said that as a young boy, he was met with discouragement about his potential as a quarterback and was doubted on the basis of his height and ethnicity. Despite this, Vick's drive propelled him forward. He shared how the 1999 draft, where African-American athletes Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith, and Daunte Culpepper were drafted as quarterbacks, acted as a glimmer of hope for his future career. Vick’s eventual breakthrough into the NFL aided in defying racial stereotyping and influenced a generation of athletes.
