On today’s episode of “This Day In History,” we wanted to highlight Michael Vick, given his historic achievement.
As Dov Kleiman points out, Vick made NFL history, as he was the first African-American quarterback to be drafted first overall, going to the Atlanta Falcons in 2001.
On this Day in 2001: #Falcons @MichaelVick made history by becoming the first African American QB to be drafted #1 overall.
In 2004, Atlanta made him the highest paid player in NFL history with a 10-year, $130M contract extension. pic.twitter.com/bPdIKrSS07
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 21, 2023
As Kleiman also includes, Vick, was, at one point, the highest-paid player in NFL history.
During his time in the league, Vick provided highlight plays and was one of the first quarterbacks to adopt a run-and-gun style of play.
Vick played for a total of 13 seasons, spending time with the Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
On this historic anniversary, many fans took to the internet, celebrating Vick’s accomplishments.
— Levonne Rowan III (@LevonneRowanIII) April 21, 2023
— Stamkos96 (@Stamkos96) April 21, 2023
One of my favorite players of all time
— Brownsfball (@Brownsfball1) April 21, 2023
As these fans indicate, Vick was an incredibly popular player due to his on-field efforts.
Many consider him to be one of the best quarterbacks over the last 20 years, due to the way he revolutionized the quarterback position.
After his time in the NFL, Vick has been involved in several charitable efforts, giving back to local communities.
He established the Vick Foundation, which supports at-risk youth through various activities, including after-school programs.
Vick was also active after the Virginia Tech massacre, donating a large sum of money to the affected families.
On this day, Vick is remembered for not only his historic achievements on the field but his off-field efforts are also recognized.
A trail-blazer in many avenues, Vick has impacted the game of football in a myriad of ways, inspiring a new generation of quarterbacks.
NEXT:
Top NFL QB Prospect Is Visiting The Falcons Today
