Teams
- Atlanta Falcons (2001-2006)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2009-2013)
- New York Jets (2014)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2015)
Accolades
- 4-time Pro Bowler (2002, 2004-2005, 2010)
- Bert Bell Award – “Player of the Year” (2010)
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2010)
“There has been no quarterback like him in the league before.”
—NFL executive Charley Casserly (source)
One may look back and find it hard to believe that, statistically, Michael Vick would be the 100th greatest quarterback of all time, but there was a time when such a status would have been considered a huge disappointment. The rushing machine with the canon arm was taken by the Atlanta Falcons with the #1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, was the lone QB taken in the first round (Drew Brees was the first pick of the 2nd round). His talent and potential made him a marketing darling off the bat, that it seemed like no stadium could contain him.
In his first full season as starter, in 2002, the 22-year old took the Falcons to the playoffs. Even more impressive was the Falcons upset of the Packers at Lambeau Field, Green Bay’s first home playoff loss since the 1960 NFL Championship game. Despite missing the bulk of the 2003 season with a broken leg, he returned to full strength the next year and led Atlanta to a playoff victory, a 47-17 obliteration of the St. Louis Rams. However, Vick and the Falcons would fall one game short of Super Bowl XXXIX. Unfortunately for Vick and the Falcons, the next two seasons ended with three consecutive regular season losses, keeping them from playoff berths.
Sadly, his legacy may not be for his impact on the game, but rather his ownership of, and participation in, a pit bull fighting ring. His guilty plea, and subsequent suspension from the NFL, cost him two prime seasons in 2007 and 2008. Given a second chance, he made the most of it. In 2010, he became the primary starter for the Philadelphia Eagles. In throwing for 3,000+ yards, and possessing a 100.2 passer rating, he had his best career season and led the Eagles to an 8-3 record in games he started. This earned him his first Pro Bowl selection in 2005, although the Eagles fell to Green Bay in the Wild Card round. Despite a few productive seasons thereafter, he never returned to the playoffs as starting QB.
Michael Vick is certainly one of the more controversial quarterbacks in NFL history, but his appeal was undeniable. He was one of the first QBs who could make fans hold their breath during every drop back, able to fire an 80-yard pass or scramble for an 80-yard run, depending on what the defense gave him. Legal troubles cost him two prime seasons, but he was granted an opportunity for redemption, both on and off the field. His second chance with the Eagles has helped vault him onto my list of the Top 100 greatest quarterbacks of all time. And off the field, among his multiple charitable efforts, he has become an outspoken advocate against animal cruelty.
Deviation Chart
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 0.035 | 0.019 | -0.004 | 0.002 | 0.050 | -0.072 | -0.024 | 0.090 |
| Playoffs | -0.080 | -0.085 | -0.394 | 0.136 | 0.023 | -0.076 | -0.194 | 0.075 |
Longevity Bonus = 0.6 Title Bonus = 0.0
Index Score = 1.024 (average QB = 0.0)
Deviation Rank (out of 150)
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 66th | 54th | 75th | 117th | 28th | 145th | 95th | 64th |
| Playoffs | 103rd | 97th | 125th | 53rd | 53rd | 112th | 108th | 58th |
Why is he on the Top 100 list?
Despite being just as known for his legs as his arms, Vick made his completions count. He is 28th in deviation for Average of Yards/Completion + Yards Attempt in the regular season. His legs certainly helped too, helping him rank 54thout of 150 in total yards per game. His 10 games over .500 record as a starter (61-51-1) was also a benefit.
Why isn’t he higher on the list?
Despite the high Y/C/Y/A, his low completion rate hurt him. For the regular season, he ranked sixth-worst among all 150 quarterbacks analyzed in completion percentage. Despite a memorable performance against Green Bay, the playoffs weren’t particularly kind to him. He finished sixth-worst among all QBs analyzed in playoff completion percentage. He also finished outside the Top 100 in touchdowns per game and touchdowns per pass attempt.
The Quarterback Project 