Description
Book SynopsisThe rousing stories of the often-overlooked players who sweat blood and tears in obscurity to see their dreams of playing professional football come true
Football fans may know all about the superstars of the NFL, but very few know anything at all about the players at the bottom of the rosters—the men just fighting for a spot on the team. Yet the struggles of these players represent what thousands have experienced, from the agony of being dropped to the practice squad to the elation of earning a starting job after years of toiling in anonymity.
In 53rd Man: Fighting to Make It in the NFL, John Vampatella shares stories from across the league of those men whose NFL journeys have taken numerous twists and turns, all in an effort to play the game they love at the highest level. The experiences of three men in particular—Geremy Davis, Matthew Slater, and Austin Carr—reveal behind-the-scenes details of what life is really like in the NFL, working day in and day out in the shadows of the superstars. Their stories uncover the anxiety and excitement of the draft, the challenge to get through camp and make an NFL team, and what it takes to survive and thrive in the league.
53rd Man is about football, but it’s also about much more than that. It’s about what it takes to succeed, how to overcome obstacles, how to deal with disappointment, how faith can shine a light in the dark and difficult times, and how to make a difference in the lives of others along the way.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Preface
Chapter 1: A Dream Come True
Chapter 2: Like Father, Like Son
Chapter 3: After Mr. Irrelevant
Chapter 4: An NFL Draft Prospect
Chapter 5: Camp
Chapter 6: From #bleedblue to Big Blue
Chapter 7: The Patriot Way
Chapter 8: The Road to New Orleans
Chapter 9: The Playbook
Chapter 10: Opening Night
Chapter 11: First Game Jitters
Chapter 12: Active!
Chapter 13: The Best Athlete You’ve Ever Known
Chapter 14: Injuries and Setbacks
Chapter 15: Hammies
Chapter 16: Learning the Ropes
Chapter 17: Minnesota Miracle
Chapter 18: 53rd Man Money
Chapter 19: Shaping the 53rd Man
Chapter 20: Serving
Chapter 21: Captain
Chapter 22: Platform
Chapter 23: Victories
Chapter 24: Done
Chapter 25: Giving Back
Chapter 26: Do Justice
Chapter 27: A Helping Hand
Notes
About the Author
