NASHVILLE – Michael Vick played 13 seasons in the NFL, and he experienced a lot.
Like Titans quarterback Cam Ward, Vick was the first pick in the NFL Draft. The Falcons picked Vick first overall in 2001, and by the time his career was over he'd been selected to four Pro Bowls en route to throwing for over 22,464 yards.
Vick is now the head coach at Norfolk State.
When he talked to his quarterbacks last year, Vick said he pointed them to Ward, and his journey, in an effort to make them better.
"I love Cam's mindset and his attitude," Vick said of Ward. "I loved him in college, and I love the way he handles his business. I did tell my quarterbacks, as they were going through their journeys of bouncing around from school to school, look at Cam Ward's journey and how he handled things, and how he was always so professional about it.
"It led him to the right places, and it led him to where he is right now. Cam is on his way."
Ward, who played in college at Incarnate Word and Washington State before finishing at Miami, is on his way, in Tennessee.
Heading into his second NFL season, Ward is back in the building for the start of the team's offseason program and looking to build off of his rookie season.
Vick, who spoke to TennessseeTitans.com at the Pro Bowl earlier this offseason, thinks Ward is going to have a big jump in Year 2, with changes around him.
"I thought Cam progressed as the season went on last year," Vick said. "I think the biggest thing for Cam is he got a ton of snaps last year, and experience, and that's going to bode well for him in the future. The one thing I can guarantee you is he'll be a lot better in year 2 than he was in year 1.
"He showed flashes (last year), but ultimately, it's a team game and you build around him. The Titans know they have a quarterback for the future, and a new coach now. Things are going to come around."
Ward is coming off a rookie season when he threw for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions, with a passer rating of 80.3. He showed tremendous improvement in the final weeks of his rookie season.
Ward, who started all 17 games for the Titans in 2025, played every snap before suffering a right shoulder injury in the season finale at the Jaguars.
This offseason, the Titans hired Robert Saleh as the team's head coach, and Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator.
Vick thinks the two coaches will help Ward be ever better.
Vick played 13 seasons in the NFL from 2001-2015, primarily with the Falcons and Eagles. Vick was an All-America performer at Virginia Tech, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
"Daboll has been successful everywhere he's been as an offensive coach," Vick said. "With his offensive mind, he'll be able to lock in with Cam, and I think that is going to be a great relationship. And with Robert, they have a good thing going in Tennessee. I will be eager to watch them this year."
