Michael Vick has not played in a football game since the 2015 season, but he still remains a huge topic of conversation anytime his name is brought up.
It’s not all good as the very mention of his name draws as much emotion as just about any football player, past or present.
Vick, who is probably best known for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring, will have a two-part documentary about him as part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series.
More from ESPN’s release:
Beginning with his emergence as a high school star in Newport News, Virginia, “Vick” traces the quarterback’s rise as a college football phenomenon and then number-one overall draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons – the first time an African-American quarterback was selected with the top pick. In the NFL, Vick would stand out not just for his singular athleticism, but also for his standing as a cultural icon, a star who refused to turn his back on the friends who’d been with him since the beginning. Ultimately, it would be that refusal that would portend his downfall.
Vick quickly went from superstar athlete to national pariah; from one of the most popular players in the NFL – and all of sports – to a man as ostracized as virtually any public figure in America. Yet Vick’s style of play would revolutionize the position of quarterback, and his success on the field would open doors for other black quarterbacks to follow.
Award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson is said to be directing it.
“As a historical documentary filmmaker, I was interested in placing Michael Vick’s life within larger historical narratives – narratives about race and sports, poverty and power, and about the criminal justice system,” Nelson said in a statement, via ESPN. “In the film, we get to see how Vick’s childhood affects the choices he makes, as well as how these larger social forces shape his trajectory. I hope that viewers of the film can gain a fuller understanding of the social context that gave rise to Vick’s story, as well as its reverberating impact.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
It’s hard to know what Vick’s legacy will be as he was certainly a one-of-a-kind QB coming out of Virginia Tech, and although his speed got him past opposing defenses on the field, he couldn’t dodge criminal charges that brought his career to a screeching halt.
He has done everything possible to make up for his past behaviors, but some people refuse to let go what he did.
The first part of the documentary will air Thursday, January 30 at 9 p.m. ET and part two will air Thursday, February 6, at 9 p.m. ET.
