Top five: football books for autumn 2023

Super Bowl LVII, in February 2023, was the first time two black starting quarterbacks had faced each other in the NFL’s biggest game. The last NFL team to start a black quarterback, the New York Giants, only did so in 2017. Despite the claims from some quarters that racism is a thing of the past, the racist stereotypes that denied black quarterbacks a starring role in the NFL still casts a shadow over the modern game. In his latest book, John Eisenberg explores the long history of black quarterbacks in professional football, from the unspoken colour bar of the 1940s and the disingenuous assessments of the aptitude of black QBs, to today’s improved but far from perfect situation.
Published: September 5
Full review
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Over the last decade Pro Football Focus has gone from a fringe outfit to a central part of the analytics community. Started in the early 2000s by a Brit, Neil Hornsby, the site began attempting to quantify player performance as a way to fill the gaps in traditional football statistics. The operation took a leap forward when commentator and former NFL wide receiver Cris Collinsworth bought the company in 2014. Coller, a Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, tells the story of the business from its early days, detailing the scepticism the company faced from the NFL community and the uncertainty it has faced as it grows.
Published: October 3
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Long-time readers of this site will know that I’m British, so a book like this is right up my street. Ben Isaacs traces the history of American football’s growth in the UK through the stories of some of the sports biggest fans. Memorabilia obsessives, video gamers and NFL Europe buffs are among those sharing their experiences. It’s a good read for those who witnessed the sport’s growth first hand and for new British fans who want to understand the sports’ roots in the UK, but I’d also recommend it to US fans who may not know how and why Britain became the NFL’s second home.
Published: August 22 (UK), December 1 (US)
Full review
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Michael Lombardi’s first book, Gridiron Genius, drew on his long experience as a senior figure in NFL front offices to examine team decision-making. His second book, Football Done Right, is more the product of his second career as a football pundit. Two-thirds of the book is devoted to Lombardi’s run-down of his top 100 players, while another 20 pages cover his top 10 coaches. In other sections he dips into the Draft, trades and TV coverage. Lombardi has plenty of expertise to back his opinions, but this is more of a debate-starter than an insider’s guide.
Published: September 5 (US), September 28 (UK)
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK

A bit of a strange one, this. Long-time sportscaster Dan Patrick and comedy writer Joel H Cohen have got together to write a humorous take on NFL history. With contributions from numerous other comedy writers, the book combines jokes about notable events on football history with off-the-wall opinions and stuff that’s entirely made-up. Humour is subjective so your mileage may vary but I found this to be hit-and-miss, with far more misses than hits.
Published: September 5
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK