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- Michael Vick dogfighting case timeline
- Why did Michael Vick go to jail?
- Michael Vick jail sentence details
- How long was Michael Vick in jail?
- When did Michael Vick retire from NFL?
- Where is Michael Vick now?
- Michael Vick net worth
- What happened to the dogs from Bad Newz Kennels?
In the first five years of his NFL career, Michael Vick had positioned himself as an all-time talent and arguably the greatest two-way quarterback football had ever seen.
At the end of the 2006 season, Vick had earned three Pro Bowl nods, two top-five finishes in MVP voting, and was fresh off a campaign with a career-high 1,039 rushing yards. The Falcons were consistently an offensive threat with Vick, and his stardom was only growing because of it.
However, everything changed surrounding Vick in 2007. His career came to a halt following a dogfighting investigation that eventually resulted in the quarterback being indicted on federal felony charges, a prison sentence and an indefinite suspension from the NFL.
Here's what to know about Vick's dogfighting case and charges, including the 2007 investigation, his prison time, how it led to his financial struggles, and more.
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Michael Vick dogfighting case timeline
April 25, 2007: Search warrant on drug investigation leads to dogfighting discovery
The dogfighting case involving Vick began in April 2007, when a search of property in Surry County, Va., resulted in evidence of a dogfighting ring in Newport News, Va. The original search warrant was for a drug investigation of Vick's cousin Davon Boddie, but the investigation was at a property owned by Vick.
Details began to emerge from state and federal investigations that suggested an inter-state dogfighting ring that involved drugs and gambling, as well as gruesome abuse, torture, and execution of dogs.
Over 70 dogs, primarily pit bull terriers, were seized with physical evidence at Vick's property. According to the Washington Post, officers "found equipment associated with dogfighting, blood stains on the walls of a room, and a bloodstained carpet stashed on the property."
By that point, Vick had also been involved in a few other controversies while in the NFL. In 2004, two men were arrested in Virginia for distributing marijuana, and the truck they were driving was registered to Vick. In 2005, a woman named Sonya Elliott filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Vick gave her genital herpes, failing to inform her he had the disease despite getting treatment for it at clinics under the alias "Ron Mexico." By April 2006, the civil lawsuit was settled on undisclosed terms.
In 2006, Vick had also been fined by the NFL for making an obscene gesture toward fans.
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July 2007: Vick, three other men indicted on federal charges
In July 2007, Vick and three other men were indicted on federal felony charges related to their operation of a dogfighting ring at Vick's property. Vick was charged with competitive dogfighting and conducting the venture across state lines, and the indictment alleged that the quarterback was "highly involved in the operation, alleging that he attended fights and paid off bets when his dogs lost. It said he also was involved in the executions of dogs that did not perform well," per the Washington Post.
The three other men indicted were Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips, and Tony Taylor.
The indictment stated that Vick, Phillips, and Taylor decided to begin a dogfighting operation at the athlete's property in 2001, using the property to stage fights and train the dogs for fights. They named their operation "Bad Newz Kennels," building a house in Newport News with fences in the rear part of the property to shield it from public view.
The indictment also details various dogfights at the property and said that in April 2007, Vick and two others had "executed approximately eight dogs that did not perform well in 'testing' sessions by various methods, including hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog's body to the ground." Additionally, Vick had allegedly consulted with Peace before Peace killed a dog by electrocution.
At the time, many of the companies that were previously endorsing Vick pulled those deals, including Nike, which suspended Vick's contract without pay in July before entirely terminating its relationship with the quarterback the following month.
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August 27, 2007: Vick pleads guilty to federal charges
Vick and the other co-defendants agreed to enter separate plea bargains for the federal charges in August 2007. Vick pleaded guilty to "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture," admitting that he had provided most of the funds for the dogfighting operation, as well as participated in several dog fights and shared the proceeds from the dogfights.
Vick also admitted that he knew others killed dogs who weren't "performing well" and that he took part in some of those killings by hanging, beating, and drowning. He denied placing any side bets on the fights. On Aug. 27, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted Vick's guilty plea.
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August 2007: Vick suspended indefinitely by the NFL
Just hours after pleading guilty to the federal charges in the "Bad Newz Kennels" investigation, Vick was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote a letter to Vick, which can be found here, saying his conduct was "not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible."
"Your team, fans, and the NFL have all been hurt by your actions. You have lied to your teammates and coaches, to the Falcons' owner and management, and also to me," Goodell wrote. "You are now justifiably facing the consequences for the decisions you made and the conduct in which you are engaged. Your career, freedom, and public standing are now in the most serious jeopardy. I hope that you will be able to learn from this difficult experience and emerge from it better prepared to act responsibly and to make the kinds of choices that are expected of a conscientious and law-abiding citizen."
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Despite Vick being a first-time offender under the league's personal conduct policy, Goodell gave him a harsher penalty because of the quarterback's admissions in funding the operation and gambling. While the commissioner did suspend him indefinitely, he also left the door open for Vick to be reinstated if he cooperated with authorities.
Vick had previously been barred from joining the Falcons at training camp or offseason workouts prior to the suspension, with the league still investigating his case, and the terms of his July bail required him to stay in Virginia anyway.
Following Vick's suspension, Falcons owner Arthur Blank said the team would seek to recover what it could of the quarterback's signing bonus. However, the Falcons would not cut Vick immediately because of salary cap issues. Soon after, the Falcons sent Vick a letter demanding that he reimburse them for $20 million of the $37 million bonus.
"We cannot tell you today that Michael is cut from the team," Blank said in a press conference, per ESPN. "Cutting him may feel better emotionally for us and many of our fans, but it's not in the long-term best interest of our franchise."
Vick, who was reportedly set to lose around $100 million due to his conviction, also apologized in front of the media in August 2007, saying used "bad judgment" and made "bad decisions."
"First, I want to apologize, you know, for all the things that -- that I've done and that I have allowed to happen. I want to personally apologize to commissioner [Roger] Goodell, [owner] Arthur Blank, coach Bobby Petrino, my Atlanta Falcons teammates, you know, for our -- for our previous discussions that we had. And I was not honest and forthright in our discussions, and, you know, I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself to say the least," Vick said, per ESPN.
"I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts and, you know, what I did was, what I did was very immature so that means I need to grow up. ... I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player."
Vick technically remained on his Falcons contract while away from the NFL, not being released until June 2009, but he was suspended without pay the entire period.
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September 2007: Vick partially confined to home due to failed drug test
While Vick was still free on bail in September 2007, he tested positive for marijuana on a random drug test, which violated the conditions of his release while awaiting sentencing.
That resulted in the judge, Hudson, ordering Vick to be confined to his home from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. with electronic monitoring until his court hearing date, per USA Today.
September 25, 2007: Vick charged with two class-6 felonies in Virginia
Separate charges in the state of Virginia were brought against all four defendants in the "Bad Newz Kennels" case following indictments by the Surry County grand jury, which met on Sept. 25, 2007.
Vick was charged with two class-6 felonies, both of which carried a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. However, state prosecutor Gerald Poindexter postponed Vick's trial in Surry County Circuit Court until after his release from federal custody.
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November 2007: Vick turns himself in early
Vick turned himself in early in November 2007 in order to begin accruing time-served credit for his impending sentence. He was held at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Va.
December 10, 2007: Vick sentenced to 23 months in federal prison
Vick was sentenced in a U.S. District Court in Richmond on December 10, 2007. Per CNN, he was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison, with the judge saying he was "convinced it was not a momentary lack of judgment" for Vick, calling him a "full partner" in the crimes. Outside of the court, there were animal rights protesters lined up with signs.
Vick was assigned to Federal Correctional Institution in Kansas for his sentence. At the time of his sentencing, Vick also agreed to reimburse others for the costs of caring for the confiscated dogs from his property, most of which were being put up for adoption.
Vick began his prison term in January 2008.
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November 2008: Vick pleads guilty to state charges
Following his state charges being postponed, by October 2008, Vick planned to plead guilty to those state charges in order to attempt to be released from federal prison earlier and enter a halfway house, per The Virginian-Pilot.
In November, Vick was then transported to Virginia to appear before the Surry County Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty to a single dog fighting felony charge. According to Michigan State's Animal Legal & Historical Center, Vick agreed to serve three years in the Virginia Department of Corrections and pay a fine of $2,500, conditions that were suspended provided Vick remained "of uniform good behavior for a term of four years." In return for his plea agreement, Vick's other state felony charge was dropped.
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May 20, 2009: Vick released from prison, under supervised probation
Vick was released from prison on May 20, 2009, per ESPN, then from federal custody on July 20 of the same year. He had served 19 months of his 23-month federal sentence, being released for good behavior.
Vick was then set to begin a period of supervised home confinement. He signed with the Eagles on Aug. 13, 2009.
POWERFUL: When legendary #NFL quarterback Michael Vick got out after spending multiple years in prison.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 23, 2025
Vick said he cried most nights in prison.
“I was disgusted because of what I let happen to those animals. I could've shut the whole operation down”pic.twitter.com/vPflfWZayG
Why did Michael Vick go to jail?
Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison in December 2007 for one count of criminal conspiracy to operate a dogfighting ring across state lines. The case involved the abuse and killing of dogs, and Vick admitted to financing the dogfighting ring on his property in Virginia.
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Michael Vick jail sentence details
On Dec. 10, 2007, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson sentenced Michael Vick to 23 months in a federal facility in Leavenworth, Kan. for his role in the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting ring. Vick had pleaded guilty to "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture" in August 2007.
Hudson's 23-month sentence for Vick was longer than the federal guidelines, which he said was because of Vick's dishonesty during the investigation into the dogfighting ring, his failure to accept full responsibility, and his violation of original bail terms by testing positive for marijuana. Vick was in then in prison until May 2009.
Vick was also charged with two class-6 felonies in the state of Virginia later on, but he received a three-year suspended prison sentence that was conditional on his behavior.
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How long was Michael Vick in jail?
Michael Vick was in jail for a total of 21 months, with the final two months spent in home confinement.
He began his sentence early in a Virginia jail prior to the official sentencing, then was transported to a federal facility in Leavenworth, Kan., from January 2008 to May 2009. Vick was then held to home confinement for two more months.
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When did Michael Vick retire from NFL?
Vick officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Feb. 3, 2017. He did not play the prior season, but he told ESPN that by February 2017, he was officially done playing.
"In this moment right now, I'm willing to say yeah, I'm officially retired," Vick told ESPN. "I think it's time. I think going through the 2016 season without playing and being able to be a spectator and watch the game and enjoy it from afar and root for a lot of the players and coaches I once played for, I think kind of summed it all up for me."
Vick's career began by being drafted No. 1 overall by the Falcons in 2001 and becoming an MVP candidate through his first five seasons, including a trip to the NFC Championship Game in 2004 with Atlanta. However, his 21-month federal prison sentence for running a dogfighting ring halted his career, and it was unclear whether he would return to football after years of legal issues, prison time and financial troubles.
The Eagles signed Vick in a controversial move in August 2009, the same year he was released from prison. He wound up starting 35 games over the next few seasons for Philadelphia under Andy Reid, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2010.
Vick then had one-year stints with the Jets in 2014 and the Steelers in 2016. When he finished his career, he was the NFL's all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks, also owning the 2010 AP Comeback Player of the Year award and four Pro Bowl selections.
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Where is Michael Vick now?
Michael Vick is now the head football coach at Norfolk State University, which isn't far from his hometown of Newport News, Va. It is the largest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Virginia.
He became the 19th head coach in the program's history when he was hired in December 2024. Prior to becoming Norfolk State's head coach but after his retirement, Vick had spent limited time as a coaching intern with the Chiefs under Andy Reid, worked for around seven years as an analyst for Fox Sports' NFL coverage, and was a consultant for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football in 2018.
"Today marks a historic day for Norfolk State University," NSU Director of Athletics Dr. Melody Webb said in a statement when Vick was hired in 2024. "I am thrilled to welcome Michael Vick and his family back to the Hampton Roads area to lead our football program. One of the greatest athletes the region has ever seen, Coach Vick's leadership, knowledge, and dedication will pour into the fundamental layers of the foundation we hope to build for Norfolk State football."
Michael Vick in his First year as the
— AuxGod (@TheOXGod) July 26, 2025
Head Coach at Norfolk State University pic.twitter.com/vIxYU5OuVT
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Michael Vick net worth
Vick's financial situation has been in the spotlight over the years just as much as his legal issues.
According to Spotrac, Vick made a total of $115,952,908 as a player in the NFL, with over $57 million of that figure coming from the Falcons and around $53.5 million coming from the Eagles. Additionally, as a star quarterback in the NFL, Vick had deals with Nike and other high-profile companies prior to his 2007 arrest. But between his reported spending problems, legal issues, and 2008 bankruptcy filing, Vick's net worth declined drastically in the middle of his NFL career.
By the end of 2006, Vick was reportedly estimated to be making over $25 million per year between his NFL salary and endorsements. However, his following legal issues, spending, and other investments resulted in over $17 million in debt.
During the time of his dogfighting scandal, Nike suspended its contract with Vick without pay in 2007, Reebok halted sales of his No. 7 jersey, and Donruss, a top trading card company, announced it was pulling Vick's name from new packs, per AP.
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In July 2008, during his federal prison sentence, Vick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as he failed to "work out consensual resolutions with each of his creditors." The initial filing listed assets of less than $50 million and debts of between $10 million and $50 million.
According to Reuters, court papers showed that Vick owed creditor Joel Enterprises Inc. around $4.5 million for breach of contract, owed the Falcons franchise millions of dollars for a previous pro-rated signing bonus, owed the Royal Bank of Canada $2.5 million on a loan tied to real estate, and more.
ESPN reported in 2009 that Vick had "repeatedly ignored sound advice, listened to the wrong people, spent his money foolishly and lost control of the dubious characters drawn to him and to his money." A financial planner who had previously worked with the quarterback also called him "gullible," and among Vick's investments that turned into losses included a wine shop, rental cars, real estate ventures, a horse farm, and an emergency medical clinic to be built in the Miami airport.
Additionally, Vick had admitted to funding the dogfighting ring that resulted in his 2007 arrest. The quarterback was also known to be financially supporting his family and friends, buying jewelry, and paying for four houses.
In the years following his bankruptcy, a reorganization plan resulted in Vick paying back nearly the entirety of his $17.6 million in debts by 2017, per ESPN.
Prior to his 2007 arrest, Vick was among the highest-paid NFL players due to his stardom, but between his legal issues and other financial habits, his net worth decreased from where it had been over the years.
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Michael Vick 2025 net worth
As of 2025, Celebrity Net Worth estimated that Vick has a net worth of $4 million. However, SportsKeeda also estimated in 2024 that he had a net worth of $16 million.
According to 13 News Now, Vick is making a $400,000 annual salary at the school on a deal that lasts four years. The deal also reportedly includes bonuses, such as $100,000 for an FCS National Championship win.
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What happened to the dogs from Bad Newz Kennels?
According to WVEC.com, in October 2007, there were 49 dogs from Vick's property that remained in animal shelters from the investigation. U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson ordered that one of the dogs, which were "aggressive to the point the evaluation couldn't be completed," was to be euthanized.
The other 48 dogs were ruled safe enough to find new homes, although with "strict conditions." Hudson requested that animal law expert Rebecca J. Huss oversee the possible placement of the dogs, and he also granted a request to have the dogs spayed or neutered and have microchips implanted, per MSNBC.
At the request of federal authorities, Vick also agreed to pay $1 million to reimburse the costs of caring for the dogs that were on his property.
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In 2008, the Washington Post reported that of the 47 living dogs from the Vick scandal, as another one had been euthanized due to health problems, a total of 25 were placed in foster care, some of which were adopted, and 22 were sent to an animal sanctuary in Utah because of aggression toward other dogs. Among the dogs was a pit bull named Leo that was a certified therapy dog in California and a dog named Hector that was adopted and at the time, "about to start training for national flying disc competitions in Minnesota."
Several of the dogs, and those working with them, were featured on a "DogTown" episode called "DogTown: Saving the Michael Vick Dogs" on the National Geographic Channel.
In 2019, the Washington Post also reported that 11 of the dogs were still alive at the time, writing a profile of the dogs with photos of most of them.
In December 2021, the last living dog from Vick's property, named Frodo, died at age 15, according to the New York Post.
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