20 Best Books About American Football (2023 Update)

Using some of the most prominent voices in pro sports and cultural and media criticism,how football explains america is a fascinating, first-of-its-kind journey through the making of america's most complex, intriguing, and popular game. espn's sal paolantonio's explores just how crucial football is to understanding the american psyche. interspersed with memorable images from the climax of super bowl xlii, paolantonio tackles varying american themes from manifest destiny to “fourth and one” as he goes deep in order to answer the age-old questionwhy does america love football so much? an unabashedly celebratory explanation of america's love affair with the game and the men who make it possible, this work sheds light on topics such as how the pioneers and cowboys helped create a game that resembled their march across the continent, why rugby and soccer don't excite the american male like football does, how rule changes are continually made to enhance the dramatic action and create a better narrative, the eternal appeal of the heroic quarterback position, the military lineage from general douglas macarthur to the new york jets' head coach eric mangini, and how the burgeoning medium of television identified and exploited the nfl's great characters. it is a must read for anyone interested in more fully understanding not only the game but also the nation in which it thrives.

It’s difficult to imagine today—when the super bowl has virtually become a national holiday and the national football league is the country’s dominant sports entity—but pro football was once a ramshackle afterthought on the margins of the american sports landscape. in the span of a single generation in postwar america, the game charted an extraordinary rise in popularity, becoming a smartly managed, keenly marketed sports entertainment colossus whose action is ideally suited to television and whose sensibilities perfectly fit the modern age. america’s game traces pro football’s grand transformation, from the world war ii years, when the nfl was fighting for its very existence, to the turbulent 1980s and 1990s, when labor disputes and off-field scandals shook the game to its core, and up to the sport’s present-day preeminence. a thoroughly entertaining account of the entire universe of professional football, from locker room to boardroom, from playing field to press box, this is an essential book for any fan of america’s favorite sport.

The nfl's best players, all in one action-packed volume. over a century after the formation of the american professional football conference, the precursor to the national football league, pro football continues to excite and captivate millions of fans across the globe. at the core of the nfl is its legendary players — the incredible athletes who have thrown, caught, run, tackled and kicked their way into the annals of sports history. nfl heroes presents the best of the best in pro football. from the pioneers, to the current stars, to the all-time legends that occupy the hall of fame in canton, ohio, they're all here, including: tom brady jim brown jerry rice dick butkus johnny unitas deacon jones reggie white joe montana antonio brown walter payton bronko nagurski aaron donald dan marino terry bradshaw emmitt smith brett favre roger staubach rob gronkowski ladainian tomlinson deion sanders. featuring 100 riveting stories and over 120 photos of the game's best, this updated, second edition of nfl heroes is a must-read for any fan of america's favorite sport.

Who is the greatest running back of all time? how about the most dominant team in nfl history? what was the best play ever? sports illustrated has polled its experts, asking them to list their top 10 answers to these and other questions that pro football fans have been debating ever since the pigskin starting flying. football's greatest will rank the best of the best, explaining the methodology while paying tribute to those chosen with material from si's rich historical archive. fans will not only be able to see how our experts rate, for example, johnny unitas against brett favre against tom brady, but they will also be able to sample classic coverage of those superstars. this book is sure to spark debate around the country as fans compare their rankings to those determined by peter king, tim layden, damon hack and the rest of si's nfl insiders. which player will rate highest among linebackers-lawrence taylor or dick butkus or ray lewis? how about franchises-which is the greatest of all, the packers, the steelers or the cowboys? what better way to celebrate the best of america's most popular sport than with the greatest stories and photographs from america's favorite sports magazine?

On the heels of the successful sports illustrated 50th anniversary book comes a spectacular celebration of professional football that will be treasured by fans of america's game. with the same kind of unforgettable photographs and award-winning writing that made the si's 50th anniversary book a best-seller, this lavish coffee-table volume brings to life the bone-rattling action of nfl football and the extraordinary athletes who have made it america's true national pastime. in 256 oversized pages, the football book commemorates the dynasties and the dominating players, the crucial plays and classic games, the personalities and performances that propelled the nfl during si's first 50 years of publication, from a marginal, ragtag league to the biggest game in town.

Football is america's most popular sport: the nation is obsessed with it, and the game has spawned millions of fans worldwide. filled with facts, figures, and formations, evolution of the game chronicles the why, when, and how the game of american football developed. with chapters such as "origins of the game," "the aerial circus," and "development of the contemporary game," this unique resource traces the growth of football from its chinese origins to the fast-paced, no-huddle game of the present. with over 345 annotations and 380 diagrams, author frank francisco expertly analyzes the most innovative and lasting offensive and defensive ideas in the history of the game. lively and informative, this text also explores the unique american design, the game's steady growth, and how technologies are changing the sport at every level. for admirers of works by bill arnsparger, allison danzig, vince lombardi, and fritz shurmur, this book is the perfect addition to the library of any fan of the gridiron, whether they're a veteran coach, sold-out fanatic, or casual spectator.

New york times bestseller from acclaimed sports journalist gary myers comes the definitive inside account of the greatest rivalry in nfl historytom brady and peyton manning are perhaps the two greatest quarterbacks of all time. they are living legends who have come to embody the quarterback position and shape an entire generation of the nfl. they have also been fierce rivals every step of the way, and their many epic duels have not only ranked among the best and most exciting games ever played, they have fundamentally shaped the lives of and careers of both men.but for all their shared brilliance, they are a study in contrasts. tom is the underdog turned ultimate winner, an unheralded draft pick who went on to win a miraculous super bowl and become the leader of one of the nfl’s greatest dynasties. he is as firmly associated with big game brilliance as anyone who has ever played. meanwhile peyton was born into nfl royalty and a mountain of outsized expectations, yet somehow lived up to and exceeded all the hype, claiming virtually every passing record along his path to football immortality.the contrast in greatness—between the overachieving underdog and the crown prince of football, between postseason brilliance and statistical dominance—has served as an endless source of fascination for fans and media, and over the years as the two players have faced off again and again in classic games, the argument has only intensified. but until now, there has never been a definitive treatment of the debate that tells the real story. what do tom and peyton actually think of each other? what do their coaches think of them? what about teammates and opposing players? what are they like behind closed doors and in the locker room, and how does that influence their careers? how did their vastly different upbringings shape them, and how has each handled the injuries, setbacks and defeats they’ve dealt with over their careers? in this extraordinary book, veteran nfl correspondent gary myers tackles this subject from every angle and with unprecedented access and insight, drawing on a huge number of never-before-heard interviews with brady and manning, their coaches, their families, and those who have played with them and against them. the result is a remarkable collection of the most entertaining and revealing stories ever told about peyton and tom, from how they developed their vastly different leadership styles, to the unlikely friendship they’ve built over the years, to their respective exploits as locker room pranksters. wildly entertaining and deeply thought-provoking, brady vs manning is essential reading for anyone who truly wants to understand these extraordinary players.

How football became football traces football's evolution from a version of rugby played before a handful of friends to a spectacle played in packed stadiums before television audiences of 100 million or more. organized by era, how football became football shows how football's rules, tactics, and equipment shifted over time, as did its coaching, officiating, and fan behavior. richly illustrated and written in a fun, engaging manner, readers learn why maul-ins, puntouts and quarterback kicks disappeared from the game, as well as how helmets, end zones, hash marks, and penalty flags became part of football. walter camp, paul brown, and sid gillman receive their due, while revealing the roles played by frank birch, john lockney, and other lesser-known men who impacted the game.

Born in the heart of pennsylvania coal country, built by an eccentric owner, molded by a visionary coach, and led by hardscrabble miners like legendary running back tony "the human howitzer" latone (pictured on cover), the maroons took the nfl by storm. even after pottsville defeated the chicago cardinals in what was viewed as the 1925 nfl championship game, fans wanted more. in an epic battle described as "the greatest football game ever seen" the maroons challenged a team of all-stars from the university of notre dame, featuring the legendary four horsemen. at a time when college ball was still king, the underdog maroons turned the football world upside down, defeating notre dame 9-7 on a last-second field goal. pottsville's stunning victory legitimized the fledgling nfl, but it also destroyed the town and team that made it all possible. claiming the maroons had violated league rules by playing notre dame, the nfl suspended pottsville and awarded the 1925 championship to the cardinals. for 90 years, fans of the pottsville maroons – the team red grange said was "the most ferocious" he ever faced – have fought to correct the worst injustice in nfl history and return the 1925 title to its rightful owners. with breaker boys, the maroons' remarkable story is told at last.

Please note, the image is for illustrative purposes only, actual book cover, binding and edition may vary.

Four years after the publication of "the football book", the "sports illustrated" editorial team that created the "new york times" best seller returns with this revised and expanded edition. with over half a million copies in print, "the football book" is the perennial favorite in "sports illustrated" highly successful series of coffee-table books released every holiday season since 2005. and this revision brings the original edition up to the minute, with 80 pages of brand-new material – including a dozen stories from "sports illustrated" best writers and more than 60 pages of spectacular new photographs of nfl action through super bowl xliii in february 2009. with unforgettable photographs, and award-winning stories, this lavish volume brings to life the bone-rattling impact and the breath-taking 'athleticism that have made pro football america's true national pastime.

From a multiple new york times bestselling author, the rollicking, outrageous, you-can't-make-this-up story of the usfl the united states football league–known fondly to millions of sports fans as the usfl–was the last football league to not merely challenge the nfl, but cause its owners and executives to collectively shudder. it spanned three seasons, 1983-85. it secured multiple television deals. it drew millions of fans and launched the careers of legends. but then it died beneath the weight of a particularly egotistical and bombastic owner–a new york businessman named donald j. trump. the league featured as many as 18 teams, and included such superstars as steve young, jim kelly, herschel walker, reggie white, doug flutie and mike rozier. in football for a buck, the dogged reporter and biographer jeff pearlman draws on more than four hundred interviews to unearth all the salty, untold stories of one of the craziest sports entities to have ever captivated america. from 1980s drug excess to airplane brawls and player-coach punch outs, to backroom business deals, to some of the most enthralling and revolutionary football ever seen, pearlman transports readers back in time to this crazy, boozy, audacious, unforgettable era of the game. he shows how fortunes were made and lost on the backs of professional athletes and also how, thirty years ago, trump was a scoundrel and a spoiler. for fans of terry pluto's loose balls or jim bouton's ball four and of course pearlman's own stranger-than-fiction narratives, football for a buck is sports as high entertainment–and a cautionary tale of the dangers of ego and excess.

Classic football heroes legend series collection 10 books set description ronaldo this is the rollercoaster story of how ronaldo grew up to become a superstar striker for brazil, barcelona and real madrid. struck down by illness on the day of the 1998 world cup final, he showed world-class skill and determination to come back four years later and single-handedly destroy germany in the 2002 final to prove, once and for all, that he was one of the greatest strikers ever maradona diego maradona is a true footballing legend, and arguably the greatest player ever. the argentinian playmaker was renowned for his unbelievable skills and agility, as he effortlessly weaved his way up the pitch and through the opposition defence. nicknamed 'the golden boy', maradona earned ninety-one caps and scored thirty-one goals for his country, including in the 1986 world cup where he captained his team to victory – scoring the two most famous goals of all time, against england, along the way figo lu s figo is one of the greatest players of his generation, after a glittering career in which he captained his national team, portugal, and became barcelona's hero captain. but when he transferred to fierce rivals real madrid, he had to face the anger of barca fans all over the world. yet figo showed true courage, forging an unstoppable partnership with fellow midfield maestro zinedine zidane to win the 2002 champions league. this is the thrilling story of one of the best midfielders ever. beckham in 2002, during the final moments of injury time, david beckham scored an incredible free-kick, securing england a place in the world cup. it was this moment that ensured that beckham would become one of the most loved english footballers, as well as a manchester united and real madrid hero. during a career which spanned twenty years, beckham won an impressive nineteen major trophies. this is the story of a true sportsman, who earned respect and loyalty from his fans around the world klinsmann jurgen klinsmann: deadly goal-poacher, tottenham hotspur hero, world champion. after helping to beat england in the 1990 world cup, the german striker came to play for tottenham hotspur – but it took a long time for spurs fans to grow to love him. yet with his competitive spirit, humour and his amazing talent for conjuring a goal from thin air, he quickly became a north london legend. this is his exciting story zidane zidane is the fantastic story of the boy who started off on the streets of marseille and went on to win a world cup with france, score a legendary volley to win the 2002 champions league final, and return to real madrid as manager. this is how the poor boy with the incredible talent went on to become the greatest player of his generation rooney rooney tells the action-packed story of one boy's journey from the streets of croxteth to one of the biggest stages in world football. this heartwarming book tracks wayne rooney's fairytale rise from child superstar to everton hero to manchester united legend giggs giggs is the classic story of one of manchester united's all-time heroes. as a teenager, he was so brilliant that sir alex ferguson turned up at his front door to sign him – and the rest is history. a dazzlingly skilful winger, and one of the most decorated players ever, ryan giggs is a true premier league legend gerrard gerrard tells of how a young boy from merseyside would go on to captain his club for over a decade, inspiring their legendary champions league and fa cup wins along the way. this is the story of steven gerrard, liverpool s greatest ever player carragher carragher tells the story of the liverpool hero who stood firm to make liverpool's breath-taking victory at the uefa champions league final in 2005 possible, coming back against ac milan, despite the italian team's enormous lead. this is a story about true loyalty and dedication to one of the world's greatest teams

Football rising stars dives into the incredible journeys of ten of the world’s best young football players.

The all-america football conference and the national football league battled for supremacy from 1946 through 1949. in the end, the players from the aafc, as well as three teams, were brought into the nfl. through extensive research, the professional football researchers association (pfra) has corrected the statistics and coaching records, selected offensive and defensive all-pro teams for all four seasons and an all-conference team, and provided brief biographies and scouting reports for the members of the all-conference team.

An “excellent sports history” (publishers weekly) in the tradition of michael lewis’s moneyball, award-winning historian s.c. gwynne tells the incredible story of how two unknown coaches revolutionized american football at every level, from high school to the nfl.hal mumme spent fourteen mostly losing seasons coaching football before inventing a potent passing offense that would soon shock players, delight fans, and terrify opposing coaches. it all began at a tiny, overlooked college called iowa wesleyan, where mumme was head coach and mike leach, a lawyer who had never played college football, was hired as his offensive line coach. in the cornfields of iowa these two mad inventors, drawn together by a shared disregard for conventionalism and a love for jimmy buffett, began to engineer the purest, most extreme passing game in the 145-year history of football. implementing their “air raid” offense, their teams—at iowa wesleyan and later at valdosta state and the university of kentucky—played blazingly fast—faster than any team ever had before, and they routinely beat teams with far more talented athletes. and mumme and leach did it all without even a playbook. “a superb treat for all gridiron fans” (kirkus reviews, starred review), the perfect pass s.c. gwynne explores mumme’s leading role in changing football from a run-dominated sport to a pass-dominated one, the game that tens of millions of americans now watch every fall weekend. whether you’re a casual or ravenous football fan, this is “a rousing tale of innovation” (booklist), and “gwynne’s book ably relates the story of that innovation and the successes of the man who devised it” (new york journal of books).

An “excellent sports history” (publishers weekly) in the tradition of michael lewis’s moneyball, award-winning historian s.c. gwynne tells the incredible story of how two unknown coaches revolutionized american football at every level, from high school to the nfl.hal mumme spent fourteen mostly losing seasons coaching football before inventing a potent passing offense that would soon shock players, delight fans, and terrify opposing coaches. it all began at a tiny, overlooked college called iowa wesleyan, where mumme was head coach and mike leach, a lawyer who had never played college football, was hired as his offensive line coach. in the cornfields of iowa these two mad inventors, drawn together by a shared disregard for conventionalism and a love for jimmy buffett, began to engineer the purest, most extreme passing game in the 145-year history of football. implementing their “air raid” offense, their teams—at iowa wesleyan and later at valdosta state and the university of kentucky—played blazingly fast—faster than any team ever had before, and they routinely beat teams with far more talented athletes. and mumme and leach did it all without even a playbook. “a superb treat for all gridiron fans” (kirkus reviews, starred review), the perfect pass s.c. gwynne explores mumme’s leading role in changing football from a run-dominated sport to a pass-dominated one, the game that tens of millions of americans now watch every fall weekend. whether you’re a casual or ravenous football fan, this is “a rousing tale of innovation” (booklist), and “gwynne’s book ably relates the story of that innovation and the successes of the man who devised it” (new york journal of books).

‘a fresh look at the beautiful game’ – nmewelcome back to the inimitable work of illustrator david squires.most football fans can only dream of pulling on the shirt of their favourite team and running out in front of thousands of adoring fans. pitch invaders aside, few of us get to experience that adrenalin rush. of those who do make it as a professional footballer, even fewer realise the giddy heights of success. in the illustrated history of football: hall of fame, cartoonist david squires returns to celebrate those who straddle the game like giants; those talented, determined souls who were juggling tennis balls in the back streets before they could talk. there’s more than one way to attain football immortality though, and squires also turns his comic eye to the mavericks, the pioneers, the forgotten legends and the anti-heroes. from pele to meazza, maradona to socrates, you will be taken on an unforgettable journey through the good, the bad and the hagi.

In 1958, journalist neil leifer took the picture that remains one of his most famous to this day. the day he got the shot–alan ameche's game-winning "sudden death" touchdown–was leifer's 16th birthday. this game, called "the greatest ever played," signaled football's emergence as america's new national pastime; formerly half-empty stadiums welcomed sold-out crowds seemingly overnight, while football surpassed baseball in national television ratings. starting then, on any given sunday leifer was most likely shooting a football game somewhere in america… while best known for his iconic photograph of muhammad ali towering over a fallen sonny liston, it is his football pictures leifer considers his best. this collection represents the best of his best, culled from over 10,000 rolls of film on the sport. with an introduction assembled from the best football columns of the era by famed sports columnist jim murray, and incisive captions detailing the legendary players, coaches, and games, this volume carries the guts and glory of the game into the end zone.

Praise for the first edition: it's sure to be a hit with any gridiron fan. — american profile a superb book for fans and a compelling history of a great game. — bookpage in the united states, football has more fans than any other sport. why is the nfl so popular? who are the players that have carried this storied league to the biggest stage in america? these questions and many more are answered in detail in football's greatest stars. author allan maki includes fascinating profiles of the 50 greatest and most exciting players in the history of professional football. they're all here: from the pioneers of the game to the current stars to the legends headed to the hall of fame. exciting photographs show these past and present superstars in action, and 32 franchise profiles chart the league's rise to the top of professional sports. some of the stars new to this edition are: jared allen aaron rodgers drew brees adrian peterson larry fitzgerald troy polamalu antonio gates darrelle revis robert griffin iii ray rice rob gronkowski justin smith andre johnson terrell suggs calvin johnson joe thomas maurice jones-drew demarcus ware haloti nagata patrick willis cam newton allan maki also examines the sport in three insightful essays: one on the national football league's spectacular rise to prominence, another on the leading men and defining moments that have shaped the league and a third on the sport's legends-to-be. football's greatest stars is a superb book for every fan and a compelling history of a great game.