In the history of football video games, few players have been as universally dominant—or as notoriously overpowered—as Michael Vick in the Madden franchise. His speed, arm strength, and elusiveness made him the ultimate cheat code. However, in a recent interview, the former Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles star revealed a surprising truth: he preferred playing with traditional pocket passers like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning.
Vick, whom he says would have been called a “dual-threat” in today’s NFL, explained his preference stemmed from the need to improve his passing game early in his career and the mechanics of the game itself.
“I was always looked upon as a guy who needed to grow and progress as a passer and be like Drew Brees, and be like Tom Brady and be like Peyton Manning… and it just wasn’t a part of my game,” Vick said. “I wanted to be able to be an efficient passer early in my career, but then on Madden the passer vision was super wide so I knew how to pass the football.”
The legendary quarterback noted that playing as his virtual self presented a unique challenge, primarily due to the game’s mechanics for left-handed passers.
“When I played with myself… it was a little difficult to play with myself in the game because one, for left-handed quarterbacks my passer vision was not as wide when Peyton’s and Drew’s passer vision was way wider,” Vick revealed. “I wasn’t the most ‘accurate’ quarterback but I was fast. So every time I took on me in the game I would run and it never works that way.”
Vick’s NFL Career at a Glance
Michael Vick was selected first overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL Draft. He spent six seasons with the Falcons (2001–2006) before returning to the league to play for the Philadelphia Eagles (2009–2013). He also had stints with the New York Jets (2014) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (2015).
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Vick was perhaps best known for setting the NFL record for most career rushing yards by a quarterback with 6,109 yards, a record that was recently surpassed by Lamar Jackson. His total career passing stats include 22,464 yards and 133 touchdowns. He also won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010.
The “Unfair and Fair” 99 Rating
The discussion naturally turned to his legendary, often-cited 99 overall rating in Madden, which he embraced with a laugh.
“Yes, it was fair! [laughs]… It was probably unfair in terms of my career on the field. Unfair and fair, man,” Vick said, explaining the dual nature of his video game dominance. “It’s unfair because it’s like, ‘Look man. This guy is doing things that we really CAN’T stop…’ but it’s fair to the person who knows how to utilize it with a big time gamer on Madden like myself.”
The pride in his ability to master the game—and the position—was palpable. “I took a lot of pride in that and I had so much fun playing quarterback; I probably had more fun learning how to play quarterback,” he reflected. “There’s nothing like having the whole team on your back; the whole city on your shoulders and you’re getting it done, man. It feels great.”
A “Too Good” T.O. in Atlanta?
Vick also touched on the intriguing, almost-happened pairing with Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens on the Falcons.
“We talked about it, but from afar in a bird’s eye view… I love T.O. and the thing is T.O. needed a coach that knows how to use him,” Vick stated, pointing to Owens’ success with Andy Reid in Philadelphia. While he believes Owens would have thrived with him, he ultimately knew the move was unlikely.
“I would’ve LOVED to have played with T.O. I would’ve done… Look, T.O. couldn’t have told me anything. I’m throwing YOU the ball!!” he said. “He was too good and we couldn’t pay him and then I don’t think that they would’ve known how to use him.”
The Modern NFL and the Dual-Threat Evolution
Comparing his era to the current NFL, which is heavily influenced by dynamic quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts, Vick believes his game would translate seamlessly—or perhaps even better.
“It’ll look the same. It might be a little worse,” he mused. “The last thing people would’ve wanted was for me and Lamar [Jackson] to be in the same conference or the same division because we’re going to meet at the top EVERY year and that was me and Donovan [McNabb].”
Vick credits his former coach Dan Reeves, who drafted him, and Andy Reid, who coached McNabb, for pioneering the trend now dominating the league. Reeves, who worked with John Elway, was “light years ahead of the NFL,” Vick said.
Today, the league has caught up, validating the style of quarterbacking Vick and McNabb introduced. “Now the coaches are where Dan was and Andy was from back in the day,” Vick concluded. “I got Josh Allen and I got Kyler Murray; I got Jalen Hurts and we’re gonna give ‘em hell and that’s what it’s supposed to be.”
Post-Playing Career: TV and Coaching
Following his retirement, Michael Vick transitioned into media, serving as an NFL studio analyst for Fox Sports on various shows.He has since moved into coaching, a role he is clearly passionate about. After a brief stint as the offensive coordinator and advisor for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), Vick recently took on a prominent role back in his home state. He is currently the Head Football Coach at Norfolk State University, a prestigious Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Virginia.
