Football Bio Titles

Spotlighting a New England sports icon, this autobiography chronicles the extraordinary life and career of Troy Brown, the talented athlete who played 15 seasons with the New England Patriots. Brown demonstrates how his grit, hustle, and hard work endeared him to a generation of football fans. Brown's past is explored, relating how he made it through college and into the pros despite being given up on several times. His years with the Patriots are documented in detail, covering what it was like to play for Coach Belichick, why Tom Brady has been so successful, and the secrets behind his three Super Bowl wins. Traveling from his younger years in South Carolina through his college career in West Virginia and to the pinnacle of the NFL, this inspirational, rags-to-riches sports memoir will entertain, inform, and inspire football fans of all stripes, especially the hundreds of thousands of fans who support the Patriots—one of the most successful franchises in the league. This new paperback edition features an additional afterword on the Patriots' unforgettable 2016 championship season and Super Bowl LI victory.

All eyes and ears turned toward Ann Arbor in late 2014 when it was announced that Jim Harbaugh would be returning to the Big House as the new head coach of Michigan football. Now, Angelique Chengelis, longtime chronicler of the Wolverines for the Detroit News, gives the inside story on how exactly Harbaugh restored the Michigan program to national title contender status. Learn how he instilled a new culture and rankled rivals with outspokenness, creative tactics, and relentless recruiting. Get the behind-the-scenes story on how and why Harbaugh chose to come back to the university he led to glory as its starting quarterback in the early 1980s. Follow along as Jabrill Peppers, Jake Butt, and others develop into true stars. Michigan Man is a comeback tale, an examination of the rapid turnaround from a five-win team in 2014 to squads that earned 10 wins plus trips to the Citrus and Orange Bowls in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Featuring extensive interviews with Harbaugh himself, this is a book Wolverines faithful and football fans in general will not want to miss.

Very few college football coaches earn the distinction of becoming their programs' winningest, but Gary Pinkel has done it twice. From his nine-year tenure at the University of Toledo to his career at the University of Missouri from 2001 to 2015, Pinkel has shown he has the talent and meddle to take his teams to the top.  These remarkable achievements have been met by challenges along the way in Pinkel's personal and professional life, including a DUI and a divorce, a threatened team boycott at Mizzou which dominated national news headlines, and ultimately, a decision to step away from it all following a diagnosis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  In The 100-Yard Journey, Pinkel offers a glimpse into the mind of a winner as well as an honest reflection on meeting and overcoming the unexpected. Follow along from the start of Pinkel's coaching career at Kent State, the same program for which he played as a tight end, through stops at Washington and Toledo, and finally, taking over at the helm of Missouri, a program he guided to 10 bowl games in 15 years, a No. 1 AP ranking at the end of the 2007 season, and SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2014. Whether you're a Tigers fan or just interested in what makes a successful head coach tick, anyone can find something to relate to in Pinkel's personal memoirs.

During his nearly 50 years of sportswriting, including 28 at Sports Illustrated, readers of Dr. Z came to expect a certain alchemical, trademark blend: words which were caustic and wry, at times self-deprecating or even puzzling, but always devilishly smart with arresting honesty. In 2008, Zimmerman had nearly completed work on his personal memoirs when a series of strokes left him largely unable to speak, read, or write. Compiled and edited by longtime SI colleague Peter King, these are the stories he still wants to see told. Dr. Z's memoir is a rich package of personalities, stories never shared about such characters as Vince Lombardi, Walter Payton, Lawrence Taylor, Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch, and Hunter S. Thompson.

The 1982 Penn State national championship team was not only one of Joe Paterno's best, it was one of the best teams college football has ever seen. In When the Lions Roared, Bill Contz, one of the squad's offensive linemen, details that special season and the experience of playing for a legendary coach. Featuring dozens of interviews with former players, this book provides anecdotes from the epic contests of that season while also proving statistically why this Nittany Lions team stands up against all of the talented teams that came before and after. Also featuring a foreword and reflections by Todd Blackledge, Penn State's 1982 starting quarterback, this is an essential read for Nittany Lions faithful.

Bill Belichick started collecting Lombardi Trophies like some people collect coasters and won his fourth Super Bowl title in 2015. No other NFL team has been as successful since Belichick became the Patriots' head coach in 2000, winning titles after the 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2014 seasons, along with Super Bowl appearances after the 2007 and 2011 seasons. But is Belichick the best NFL coach of all time? In Bill Belichick vs. the NFL, author Erik Frenz not only explains what separates Belichick from his peers and compares his accomplishments to some of the all-time legends, but tells why, if there were a Mount Rushmore of NFL coaches, Belichick's face would already be on it. From his upbringing as a coach's son to learning under Bill Parcells to creating his own coaching tree, he has established a new standard that may be unparalleled in football history.

For more than three decades, the New York Giants have been one of the most competitive teams in the National Football League, winning four Super Bowls and eight conference championships in that time. Now, Lawrence Taylor—Hall of Fame player and consummate Giant—teams up with William Wyatt to tell the stories of the Giants' most memorable players and coaches, including Bill Parcells, Rays Perkins, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, and Gary Reasons to name but a few. In My Giant Life, Taylor looks back at the best games, best moments, and behind-the-scenes stories of the men who played and coached for the team.

A former NFL ref and acclaimed rules expert shares his insights and thoughts on the rules of the sport  Only recently in the world of NFL media have "rules experts" become an essential part of a fan's viewing experience. As the league continues to implement rule changes that have more and more of an impact on games and, sometimes, the final outcome, it's become imperative that fans understand the rules and how they're applied. But often, they need help. Mike Pereira, hired by Fox Sports in 2010 as the rules expert for both the NFL and college football, was not only the first to rise to prominence in the role, but he is consistently lauded as being the best by his peers and even rival media networks. Viewers have come to rely on Pereira, the former vice president of NFL officiating, to provide entertaining, informative, and reliable explanations of the league's often baffling and controversial rulings during games. Now, Pereira digs a little deeper and gives NFL fans and casual viewers alike insight into NFL rules, their applications, and some of the most controversial calls in recent memory, in terms both can understand. In this book, Pereira draws on professional experience and his personal life, both his years of work at the pinnacle of the officiating world and his upbringing as the child of longtime official, Al Pereira.

Cam Newton is the NFL's reigning MVP, one of the faces of the league and already becoming a Carolina Panthers legend. After transferring out of Florida, Newton spent a year at Blinn Community College before eventually capturing the Heisman and leading Auburn to the 2010 BCS National Championship. Cam was selected No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft and has gone on to set the NFL on fire with his sublime play and flamboyant personality on and off the field. Super Cam: Cam Newton's Rise to Panthers Greatness is the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at the Panthers superstar, who has embraced the huge expectations as a No. 1 overall pick and shattered them. Including dozens of full-color photographs, fans are provided a glimpse into Cam's life – from his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2011 to his breakout 2015 season that ended with an MVP and his first Super Bowl appearance, where Cam and the Panthers fell painfully short of a title. With the best Cam content in sports from The Charlotte Observer, this keepsake is sure to inspire and entertain Panthers and football fans alike, and get them ready for the 2016 NFL season as Cam looks to follow up his MVP campaign with a repeat performance.

Showcasing one of professional football’s best players, this book spotlights the life and career of gridiron great Tom Brady. More than just a biography, it relates Brady’s story while also establishing his prominent place in NFL history. By examining his skills and statistics in a variety of categories and comparing him to other great quarterbacks—including Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas, Roger Staubach, Aaron Rodgers, and more—the guide makes a strong case for Brady as football’s best signal caller. Along the way, his best moments as a Patriot are revisited, from championship seasons spanning from 2001 to 2015, to his favorite receivers, to his relationship with legendary coach Bill Belichick and the "Deflategate" scandal in 2015. With detailed sidebars on Brady’s celebrity status, fashion sense, much-talked-about hair, and supermodel wife, this revised and updated edition is a must-have for faithful New England fans and pro football buffs alike.

The Princess of Darkness. Former NFL team executive Amy Trask has held many titles during her career - including chief executive, analyst, and author - but this nickname is what she is first and foremost known by to Raiders fans. Trask joined the Raiders as an intern during law school after the team moved from Oakland to Los Angeles - the position the result of a cold call she made to the team. From there, she worked her way up through the ranks of the organization, to the post she would eventually hold as chief executive. Along the way, Trask worked extremely closely with the late Al Davis, a man who treated her and others on his team without regard to gender, race, and age. Trask may have been the highest-ranking female executive in the NFL during her tenure with the Raiders, but in You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League, she shares how she found success by operating without regard to gender. Replete with insider tales about being part of the Raiders' front office, behind the closed doors of NFL owners meetings, and Davis himself, Trask's book is a must-read not only for football fans, but anyone who wants to succeed in business.

Sweet 16 is inside story of the Alabama's magical 2015 football season and triumphs over Michigan State and Clemson to capture the College Football Playoff National Championship. Featuring stunning action photography and expert analysis from author Christopher Walsh, this is the definitive account of Alabama's 16th national championship. There was no holding back the Crimson Tide in 2015. Alabama's triumph in Arizona capped a 14-1 campaign. Behind Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry and the nation's top defense, Coach Nick Saban's team overcame a Week 3 loss to Ole Miss and emerged as the top team in the SEC, posting statement wins over three Top 10 opponents in conference play before topping Florida in the SEC Championship Game. That win earned Alabama a spot in the College Football playoff for the second year in a row. Alabama avenged a loss to Ohio State in the semifinal a year earlier, throttling Michigan State 38-0 to set up the matchup with Clemson. Sweet 16 takes fans through Alabama's exciting journey. From the season-opening victory over Wisconsin to dominant wins over Georgia and LSU to the to the nail-biting drama of the College Football Playoff, this commemorative edition includes profiles of Henry, quarterback Jake Coker, linebacker Reggie Ragland, and other Alabama Stars. Also featuring a foreword by The Voice of Alabama Football, Eli Gold, Sweet 16 is the perfect book for Alabama fans.

A celebration of five decades of professional football in Miami The 2015 NFL season marks the Miami Dolphins' 50th anniversary and a time for fans to celebrate one of the league's most storied franchises. The Dolphins at 50 takes fans on a season-by-season tour of the Dolphins' history, including re-living the team's perfect 1972 season, a feat that still stands alone in NFL history. This commemorative book also includes a countdown of the most noteworthy player to wear each jersey number, from 99 down. In addition, award-winning sports columnist Dave Hyde ranks the team's top 50 all-time players and former stars give their selections of the best players to ever put on a Dolphins uniform. Fans can enjoy the top 20 plays in team history and laugh once again at the top 50 Dolphins quotes as franchise icons Don Shula, Dan Marino, Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Jimmy Johnson, Jason Taylor, Ricky Williams, and more are all included. Featuring nearly 100 exclusive archival images from the award-winning Sun Sentinel, this is a must-have book for any Dolphins fan.

Renowned NFL analysts' tips to make football more accessible, colorful, and compelling than ever before More and more football fans are watching the NFL each week, but many of them don't know exactly what they should be watching. What does the offense's formation tell you about the play that's about to be run? When a quarterback throws a pass toward the sideline and the wide receiver cuts inside, which player is to blame? Why does a defensive end look like a Hall of Famer one week and a candidate for the practice squad the next? These questions and more are addressed in Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0, a book that takes readers deep inside the perpetual chess match between offense and defense. This book provides clear and simple explanations to the intricacies and nuances that affect the outcomes of every NFL game. This updated edition contains recent innovations from the 2015 NFL season.