Description
Book SynopsisThe NFL in the 1950s and 1960s was full of iconic players and legendary coaches. Future Hall of Famers battled it out on the gridiron and roamed the sidelines, making for incredible games and memorable moments. In Remembering the Greatest Coaches and Games of the NFL Glory Years: An Inside Look at the Golden Age of Football, Wayne Stewart tells of the men and events that made this era unforgettable. Through dozens of interviews with players such as Tom Matte, Mike Ditka, Raymond Berry, Don Maynard, Chuck Mercein, and Rick Volk, Stewart shares the players’ unique perspectives on the Greatest Game Ever Played, the Ice Bowl, the Heidi Game, and Super Bowl III. The second part of the book features profiles of the Hall of Fame coaches who led their teams to victory—including George Halas, Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, and Don Shula—with the players reflecting on the impact these coaches had on and off the field. Remembering the Greatest Coaches and Games of the NFL Glory Years not only shares anecdotes that reveal the warm and humorous sides of the Hall of Fame coaches but also includes breakdowns of the key decisions they made during the featured games. With exclusive insight provided by the players, this book offers readers a deeper understanding of professional football during this era directly from those who lived it.
Trade ReviewI played for and against some of the NFL’s greatest coaches of all-time, and I played in the 1958 championship contest which is still known as the Greatest Game Ever Played. Wayne Stewart, covers both topics in this book— and much more. You’ll read about my first pro coach, the great Weeb Ewbank, as well as Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, George Halas, and many other Hall of Famers—and about some of the biggest decisions they ever made. You’ll also read about several other key NFL games from the 1950s and 1960s. In short, Remembering the Greatest Coaches and Games of the NFL Glory Years is a great book for all football fans. -- Raymond Berry, Hall of Fame receiver, Baltimore Colts (1955-1967)
During the Golden Age of football many great coaches roamed the sidelines and many classic games were played. Remembering the Greatest Coaches and Games of the NFL Glory Years takes a look at both the coaches, such as Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry, and the memorable games, such as the Ice Bowl, Super Bowl III, the Heidi Game, and the 1958 championship. -- Mike Ditka, Hall of Fame tight end
I was fortunate enough to have played for the legendary Vince Lombardi and fortunate to have played in and survived the coldest game in NFL history, the Ice Bowl. Wayne Stewart’s book focuses not only on those two fascinating topics, but also gives insights into other classic games and Hall of Fame coaches. Packed with inside stories from exclusive interviews, it’s a must-read for football fans of all ages. -- Chuck Mercein, NFL running back, member of Super Bowl II champion Green Bay Packers
Wayne Stewart has written about several of the greatest, most interesting games from my time period, the 1950s and 1960s. He has also profiled many of the Hall of Fame coaches of that era. Using material from many exclusive interviews, Stewart makes the games, the coaches, and many gutsy and vital calls made by those coaches in the games come to life. This is a must-read for fans of pro football from those glamorous years. -- Tom Matte, All-Pro running back, Baltimore Colts
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part One: The Greatest Games of the Glory Years 1: The Greatest Game Ever Played—“Good Grief, I’ve Never Seen Anything Like That” 2: The Ice Bowl—“I’m Going to Take a Bite of My Coffee” 3: The “Heidi” Game—A Swiss Miss Takes On Pro Football 4: Super Bowl III—“No Brag, Just Fact” Part Two: The Greatest Coaches of the Glory Years 5: George Halas—The Bear Who Never Hibernated 6: Paul Brown—“Act Like You’ve Been There Before” 7: Weeb Ewbank—The Short Coach Who Stood Tall 8: Vince Lombardi—Dynasty Builder 9: Tom Landry— he Man in the Funny Hat 10: Hank Stram—Dapper Mentor 11: Don Shula—King of the Hill 12: George Allen—“He Wanted to Win at All Costs” 13: Bud Grant—“He Understood Every Player” Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
