Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was named the offensive coordinator of the Alliance of American Football's new Atlanta team on Wednesday.
Vick called the position "a dream come true" at an introductory news conference that was broadcast on Facebook from Georgia State Stadium in Atlanta.
"This is an amazing opportunity," said Vick, who worked as a Fox Sports NFL analyst last season. "I've always had a passion for teaching, coaching. I've been coached by some of the best. ... I'm looking forward to paying it forward to a group of guys that get a second opportunity at their careers."
"I've always had a passion for teaching, a passion for coaching," Vick said at a news conference on Thursday morning in Atlanta. "When Brad called me about this opportunity, I felt like it was obviously something I couldn't pass up."
Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress will assume that role with the Atlanta team, with Vick being the offensive coordinator.
It has been quite the comeback for Vick, who was an outcast after he spent 18 months in prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. After his release, he played seven more seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending his playing career in 2015.
Vick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008, saying that he owed $17.6 million to creditors. Vick paid back $17.4 million of it. Not having faith that Vick would do so, the Falcons sold the $6.5 million he owed them to a bank at a discount.
The ill will between Vick and the Falcons has since been pushed aside. In June, the team honored Vick, who was named to three Pro Bowls during his six seasons (2001-06) in Atlanta, where he threw for 71 touchdowns on 11,505 yards passing. He also became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
The Alliance of American Football was announced last month by Charlie Ebersol, director of the 30 for 30 documentary on the XFL and son of former NBC sports chief executive Dick Ebersol. ESPN analyst and former NFL general manager Bill Polian is a co-founder of the league.
Rules for the league include no kickoffs, required two-point conversions after touchdowns, limited replays and no television timeouts. Two games in the 10-game season will air on CBS with the rest airing on CBS Sports Network and the league's app.
Other former NFL players involved in guiding the league include Justin Tuck, Jared Allen, Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward.
