Coaching Confidential: Inside the Fraternity of NFL Coaches

by Gary Myers

A behind-the-scenes look at the high-pressure lives of NFL head coaches

Coaching Confidential chronicles a year in the life of an NFL head coach. But not just one head coach. A composite portrait is drawn through interviews with at least 20 current and former head coaches (including Super Bowl winners such as Bill Parcells, Tom Coughlin, Jimmy Johnson, Tony Dungy, Sean Payton, Mike Shanahan, Dick Vermeil, Mike Holmgren, Brian Billick, and Joe Gibbs), taking us through the professional and personal challenges of the job. This book covers the draft, free agency, big trades, training camp, family crisis, player troubles, coaching relationships with members of the staff, coach-owner dynamics, rivalries, Xs and Os, the playoffs--all the way to the Super Bowl.
     Just getting to Sunday is almost a relief for NFL head coaches. It's during that three-hour window 16 days a year when they can simply concentrate on what they do best, which is trying to win football games. But the job is, of course, much more than that.

Genres: Football, Sports, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Caleb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am willing to slog through a lot of books, even long ones. This one is only 250 pages and I have quit at 175. It's about the experience of being a head coach in the NFL, but there is not much that a serious NFL fan would not have already heard. Plus, most stories end either with people making up over time or still not talking. Finally, the book suffers from a lack of editing. The stories bleed into each other in a way that it feels like padding on length rather than interconnections.

[Christian Olson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should have been better, familiar with many stories, not written in the most engaging or most thorough fashion, not that memorable except for the sequence about Shannahan enlisting Steve Young to hit Al Davis with a football (probably more entertaining considering my feelings towards the Raiders).

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing and fabulous look into the other side of coaching in the NFL. According to my Kindle, I had 31 bookmarks. It felt like so many more since it seemed every page was something new, exciting, or awe-inspiring in some cases. As a Giants fan, I loved that it opened with SB46. But I also loved the look backs into NFL history.

-Tom Coughlin and Belichick. Even though they've been on opposing sides of two recent Super Bowls, the two are so closely linked via Parcells that their looking for one another and "long embrace" shouldn't be surprising - but somehow it always is. They - and from the younger generation, Sean Payton keep Parcells' legacy alive in the NFL. Just as it's a different NFL without Brett Favre, it will be a different one without these two men.and while they're serious, there's also a celebratory side to them - Coughlin hugging Flava Flav after the Win. Eli seeking out his head coach after the celebrations. Manning and Coughlin have a bond. The fraternity of coaches helping one another - Dungy, Reid...

"When I called Pete Rozelle at home the night (Tom) Landry was fired, he said, 'This is like Lombardi's death' It was a shocking reminder to every man who has ever stood on the sidelines: if it can happen to Landry, it can happen to me,
While the hostile takeover in Dallas was a little before I began watching football, it's a football milestone everyone knows. Yet I didn't know it in such detail.

What was also interesting in hindsight was the duel between the Pats and Jets and how much Parcells loves the drama. Speaks volumes to his value as a head coach that he still was able to work in the NFL after the nuttiness he pulled... twice. But then, this explains it: "The Parcells coaching tree has produced eight Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl championships, and the two losses came when one of the branches defeated the other. Combine that with Parcells's three appearances and two championships, and that's a total of 11 Super Bowls and eight championships in the first 46 Super Bowls. That means there's been a Parcells connection to nearly 25 percent of all the Super Bowls."

Favre trick or treating at Holmgren's. Shanahan coming back to Elway, and then beating Reeves. Shanahan wondering if a prank was going to kill Al Davis - so much behind the scenes, So many memories.

Some sad moments too - reading the section on Joe (God) Gibbs' return and the handling of the team following Sean Taylor's death was especially poignant - reading it shortly after the 5th anniversary of Taylor's passing.

Loved that the lens of Peyton Manning leaving Indy was framed through Elway & Fox's redemption in Denver - and less about the drama that ensued when he left Indy.

I have read some of Myers' articles, but even being in NY I don't read him all that often so I don't know how much of this info is recycled. Some of the history is though - you can't mention Accorsi without hearing all about how Elway was ripped from under him. Overall, a wonderful read.

[Evan Kostelka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read about some behind the scenes stories of NFL head coaches. I did not feel like his interview were always that interesting though. The one With Sean Payton lacked any real substance besides a couple observations of how his ego got the better of him after the super bowl win. It also seemed like the chapters were meant to be standalone as almost every chapter talked about coaches sleeping in their office.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. While I consider myself a big football fan, I have lost interest in the NFL over the past 10-15 years. I certainly don't follow it as I do college football. Despite my decreased interest in the NFL, I was intrigued with the prospect of reading a book offering details of some of the greatest and best known NFL coaches. This book did offer some interesting insights into the personalities (egos) of these coaches as well as their bosses and the overall structure of the entire NFL. I thought the book was well written and I was always eager to get to the next chapter (coach) to read his story. If you are a fan of professional football and are interested in getting a glimpse of what transpires off the field, get a feel for the coaching fraternity, or just learn what is involved in the business side of the coaching profession, I would recommend this book.

[Brad Maxfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I consider myself a big football fan, I have lost interest in the NFL over the years. I certainly don't follow it as I do college football. Despite my decreased interest in the NFL, I was intrigued with the prospect of reading a book offering details of some of the greatest and best known NFL coaches. This book did offer some interesting insights into the personalities (egos) of these coaches as well as their bosses and the overall structure of the entire NFL. I thought the book was well written and I was always eager to get to the next chapter (coach) to read his story. If you are a fan of professional football and are interested in getting a glimpse of what transpires off the field, get a feel for the coaching fraternity, or just learn what is involved in the business side of the coaching profession, I would recommend this book.

[Tom Stamper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty straightforward telling of the careers and machinations of notable NFL coaches of the past two decades. The book flows quickly and there are enough tidbits to whisk you from chapter to chapter. It gives background and Spygate in New England and the bounty scandal that left Sean Payton on the sidelines for a season. The story goes back to Bill Parcells and the Giants of the early 1980s and how Parcells was influential to both Bill Bellichik and Sean Payton. There is some interesting stuff on Dick Vermeil, Mike Shanahan, Tony Dungy, Andy Reid and others. Jon Gruden is mentioned in passing. The only read curiosity is the omission of Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers.

There aren't a lot of good NFL books compared to MLB so this one is worth the time and it won't take long to get through.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok I guess as part of one's personal program for getting pumped for the upcoming regular season, but really nothing new if you have been following the NFL. For such an insider, he seems to have obtained pretty much the same info and impressions as have been extensively publicized (Rex Ryan is blunt and doesn't care what anyone else thinks of him; Dick Vermeil worked too hard and burned out; Steve Spurrier didn't work hard enough and was in over his head in the pros; Daniel Snyder was a Joe Gibbs fanboy..........................).

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not finish the book. Thoughts were not cohesive and often difficult to follow. The stories (each chapter) wove together in an incoherent way, often randomly referencing outside parties and anecdotes that did not flow into one another. Very disappointed, as I enjoy reading about the 'inside scoop' and had hoped for an interesting read. Even for a sports lover, very difficult to follow and harder to complete.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting anecdotes that give a flavor of what life's like as an NFL coach, but that's all it really is: anecdotes. There's no cohesive narrative to bind it all together. It's a breezy and easy read, but it feels disjointed and ultimately is no more insightful than your average SI profile or newspaper feature.

[Mary H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more about Bill Parcells than it was about coaching in general. Most of the stories we already know. Greg Meyers just brought the names together in a connect the dots kind of way. I will say that the chapter on Tony Dungy and Andy Reid made me understand Michael Vick's issues a little better. It is an easy read. I would recommend if you are football fan.

[R.G. Belsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent inside look at the lives and careers of some top current and former NFL coaches. Bill Parcells, Jimmy Johnson and many more. I thought I knew a lot about these men, but I found out plenty more interesting things by reading this book. The author is the NFL writer for the NY Daily News, so he's been around the football scene for quite awhile. Highly recommended.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book answered a lot of questions at the back of my mind about history, rivalries and relationships between teams, players, owners and coaches. Very well-written and easy to read. You'll find yourself thinking, "oh, that's why that happened" many times. Highly recommended for all NFL fans.

[Bryan Brackney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Must read for casual to hard core NFL fans. Gives a great look into what life as a NFL head coach is. Included interviews with Tony Dungy and Brian Billick, two of my favorite coaches.

[James Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won this book as part of the Goodreads first-read program.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were interesting enough, but the writing style left much to be desired. Recommended only if you have genuine interest in the topic.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a fun book with some back stories about the NFL. You probably need to be more than a casual fan of the NFL to fully appreciate appreciate the book.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great stories if you are a football fan. Section on Joe Gibbs holding the team together after Sean Taylor's death is particularly inspiring.

[Alpha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 - Mostly history, which I wasn't so interested in. Not enough anecdotes/strategy for my taste.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great stories but little conclusion to this small but interesting enclave in American football.

[Anthony Frausto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, nothing special but does have a few interesting stories about coaching in the NFL. Football geeks will enjoy it.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read for any football fan

[Stephen Pribula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know much about this stuff, except what I overhear my sons say. But I love watching football. For me this was a very interesting and somewhat eye-opening read.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I had hoped for. The stories were interesting, but seems like no one edited the book. Stories were repeated throughout the book which really disrupted the flow.

[Scott L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started somewhat interesting, but slowly disintegrated into really bad writing. I cannot recommend reading this

[John Bodley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at a few legendary coaches, but a bit scattered and not so well written. I still enjoyed it.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like a series of newspaper articles. Gift from good friend Josh and very quick read. Some interesting insight but not a lot that isn't already known.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great insite what coaches and owners have to go through. Good read.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. I think it could have had more cohesive anecdotes.

[Hunter Schaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives a good point on what it takes to be an NFL head Coach