Another strong crop of football books is arriving along with the new NFL season. This year brings a variety of biographies and autobiographies, a few deep dives into the history of specific teams, one particularly strong look at the NFL’s young coaches and a couple of books looking at the sport and society. Here are five of my favourites.
1Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers by Ian O’Connor
This one was released in August, slightly ahead of the others on this list. Ian O’Connor, author of a similarly deep biography of Bill Belichick, has gathered lots of sources to paint a picture of mercurial New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers’ career in recent years has been overshadowed by his penchant for conspiracy theories, which makes this a far more interesting read than the usual portrait of the golden boy QB.
Published: August 24 (Mariner Books)
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK
2The Players’ Coach by Tom Moore
Still coaching well into his 80s, Tom Moore is a legendary assistant coach who has won four Super Bowl rings – two with the Steelers and one each with the Colts and Buccaneers. This book offers a mix of stories from his youth, growing up during the depression and the Second World War, as well as his time coaching some of the greats, including Lynn Swann, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
Published: September 3 (Diversion Books)
Full review
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK
3The Football Game That Changed America by Dennis Deninger
It’s been a few years since the last history of the Super Bowl, so now is as good a time as any for an update. Dennis Denninger is a former TV producer who spent 25 years at ESPN and now teaches sports communication at Syracuse. He’s well-placed to tell the story of a sporting event that has become a virtual national holiday.
Published: September 3 (Rowman & Littlefield)
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK
4The Lions Finally Roar by Bill Morris
There aren’t a lot of great books about the Detroit Lions because, frankly, there hasn’t been much to say about them for around 60 years. That has changed recently, however. Last year’s NFC Championship Game showcased an organisation that has been steadily building a competitor – and one that remains well placed to challenge again this year. Novelist Bill Morris grew up in Detroit and tells the story of the team and of the Ford family that has owned it since the early 1960s.
Published: September 3 (Pegasus Books)
Full review
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK
5The Why Is Everything by Michael Silver
The last of these five to be published is my favourite. Long-time sportswriter Michael Silver examines the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, which is currently influencing the strategic approach of much of the NFL. Shanahan, Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel, Raheem Morris and Matt LaFleur tell the story of their relationship and the development of their football thinking.
Published: October 24 (WW Norton & Company)
Full review
Buy the book: Amazon US | Amazon UK
