Crack open a thesaurus, and you’d find Michael Vick to be synonymous with polarizing. But strictly owing to an egregious and outright dishonorable act associated with his past, which he has repented for since. That polarization, that divisiveness, is a marked line in the sand between those who forgave him for his infamous scandal and those who never could. Because Michael Vick, the player, is almost unanimously revered. A pioneer of the archetypal modern-day dual-threat quarterback. The trailblazer who opened routes and minds alike and ushered in the likes of Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson, and, more recently, Jayden Daniels. Unfortunately, the visionary coach who oversaw and facilitated his development is no longer among us. The same coach who would later take his brother, Marcus Vick, under his wing. Albeit to a different degree of success.

Coaching is an incessant tryst with chasing acknowledgment and credit that sadly never arrives in full. Even for the most iconic, legendary ones. This is true even at the NFL level, and amplified on the college level. So when you come down to the high school level, credit is almost non-existent. Even though coaches at the high school level perhaps have the biggest imprint on what a player goes on to become. You see the Pro Bowls and that incredible collegiate career that made Michael Vick the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. But the foundations of those achievements were laid at Warwick High School in Virginia. Marcus Vick, on the other hand, is also an alum. But his history at the school isn’t quite as glorious. Quite the contrary, actually, with a multitude of off-field issues. Alas, both he and his brother mourn losing their guiding light.

Tommy Reamon Sr. had a noteworthy playing career as a running back. Before lining up in the backfield for the Steelers and Chiefs in the NFL and Mizzou in college, Reamon was a 2x National JuCo POTY. However, Tommy Reamon is best known for his career on the sidelines. Michael Vick wasn’t even the only one of his prominent QB disciples. He also coached Aaron Brooks, best known for his time with the Saints. Where he’d set multiple franchise records. Sadly, Tommy Reamon has transitioned after suffering a stroke. He was 73 and had been battling with health for a couple of months prior. After this somber news was announced by his son Reamon Jr. on IG, the relatively less eminent but just as grateful Marcus Vick took to his own handle and offered his condolences.

Marcus Vick echoed the initial post, which included a heartwarming message from Tommy Reamon Jr., on his IG stories. “Love you coach thanks for everything 😢🥹” he wrote. Marcus’ sister-in-law, Kijafa Vick, also extended her prayers for Reamon on her IG stories. Evidently, this is somebody who remained cherished by the entire family. As alluded to earlier, Marcus Vick had a tumultuous time at Warwick High. Elder brother Michael Vick’s crime, which had him incarcerated, was unequivocally bad. But if you were privy to certain episodes from Marcus’ past, you may just soften your stance on the former. Marcus is now an assistant coach at Norfolk State, where his brother Michael is the head coach.

It’s morbidly twisted how Reamon’s passing has happened simultaneously to Marcus and Michael Vick making their first forays in the coaching realm at Norfolk State. It’s a passing of the baton of sorts, as the two will hope to funnel everything they learned from Reamon into their own coaching and continue his legacy vicariously. The Norfolk State athletic department itself made a statement to address Reamon’s passing on behalf of their head coach.

Michael Vick and his brother’s loss acknowledged by Norfolk State

“The Norfolk State University athletic department is saddened to hear of the passing of local football legend Tommy Reamon,” read an official statement from the school. “Coach Reamon was a one-of-a-kind figure who impacted countless members of the Hampton Roads community – including our head football coach Michael Vick. He will be deeply missed. At this time, we request privacy for Coach Vick and his family as they mourn the loss of a close friend and longtime mentor.” That final bit, referring to Reamon as a “close friend” and “mentor,” epitomizes how big a loss this is for the Vick clan. It’s a loss for Virginia football as a whole.

Begrudgingly, it’s often the case that people only receive their flowers once they’ve passed. Both in the literal and figurative sense. Hopefully, Tommy Reamon’s family can find some solace in these trying times. As hapless a job as coaching high school football can be, Reamon gave it his everything. The game reciprocated his contributions to it with love from the people he impacted through it. Be that Michael Vick, Marcus Vick, Aaron Brooks, or others. May his soul rest in peace.