Total Access: A Journey to the Center of the NFL Universe

by Rich Eisen

Rich Eisen always wanted to write a book, not only because he has a lot of fun, interesting stories he’s been dying to share with everyone, but also because he’s interviewed hundreds of athletes--many of whom like to refer to themselves in the third person. In his eleven years as a national television sportscaster, Rich Eisen has been envious of those athletes because Rich Eisen has never been able to do that on his job, so the host of NFL Network decided to write a book and use it as an admittedly feeble excuse to go third-person on everybody. Not throughout the whole book, of course. That may get quite exhausting for the reader. But for an entire book jacket? Well, Rich Eisen was all over that. That’s the why behind this book. As for the how, Rich Eisen just took it one sentence at a time and hoped for the best. You know, start with a few words and turn those words into sentences which turned into paragraphs and chapters and, eventually, into this book. Rich Eisen didn’t worry about the big picture and just kept focusing on the things that he could control--the keyboard, the ON/OFF button on his computer, his dictionary, his thesaurus, and last--but certainly not least--the spell-check on his word processing program. One day, when it’s all over, only then will Rich Eisen look back on his career and try to put it all in perspective, but right now Rich Eisen absolutely knows he would not be where he is today without his spell-check. By now you must be What’s this book about? It’s about a journey. It’s about eating, living, and breathing the most popular sport in the history of America. The passion. The pageantry. The pigskin. Thanks to his role as host of the NFL Network’s signature program, NFL Total Access , Rich Eisen gets to go to virtually every event on the NFL Calendar---the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl, the Scouting Combine, the NFL Draft, and the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. You name it, Rich Eisen is there. And thanks to this book, you can go along for the ride with him--in front of the camera interviewing league MVPs and former presidents of the United States or behind the scenes with some of the game’s all-time greats like Deion Sanders, Ray Lewis, and Brett Favre, just to name a few. I mean, Rich Eisen doesn’t want to name-drop. In all seriousness, Rich Eisen doesn’t have an ego problem. At any rate, if you love the NFL (and who doesn’t), then this book is for you. If you’re curious what it would be like to live the sport year-round, this book is for you. You see, it’s not all about Rich Eisen. It’s about you reading this book and enjoying it to its fullest. At least Rich Eisen hopes you will. Advance Praise for Total Access : “I've always admired Rich Eisen’s work, so it's no surprise to me that his book is very entertaining. What is a surprise is that he's somehow found time to write it in between the NFL Network’s 6,347 hours of coverage of weak-side linebackers who could be draft-sleepers. That sort of programming and this book about it are both genuine public services.” ---Bob Costas “A lot of things in our lives are far less than as advertised, but this book advertises Total Access and gives you Total Access. That’s right. Total Access! I’m not kidding. I liked this book and I’m not a reader.” ---Tony Kornheiser, columnist for The Washington Post and co-host for ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption “Rich uses his great sense of humor to detail the life of an on-air NFL personality. It is a world I know well, but still I couldn't stop turning the pages. It is a great read---a must for anyone who loves television and Pro Football.” ---Joe Buck, Fox Sports

Genres: Sports, Football, Nonfiction, Biography

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Donny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Within the pages of Total Access, there now lies an unspoken truth: the NFL that Rich Risen chronicles here is a far-bygone era. So many aspects of the NFL have changed over time, but even now, as I finished reading it in 2025, one constant has persisted: the book's author, who has remained one of the NFL Network's most prominent figures for more than two decades now. Eisen has always been a magnetic personality since his days hosting SportsCenter with the late great Stuart Scott, and that personality is peppered throughout the pages of this backstage pass to the NFL. While you may not learn anything about how the league functions in present-day by reading it, this book now serves as a unique time capsule that shows the NFL at an interesting time in its history: on the brink of becoming the entertainment behemoth we know it to be today. If you're a football fan, you'll like this, I'm just not sure if it'll sway any non-believers.

[B. Echols]

Donated by: A. Miller

Fall 2019
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[Steve Rabideau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was good if you're an NFL fan, but is unfortunately now pretty outdated.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the Rich Eisen humor throughout. A fun read, with a little behind the scenes stories.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Grant Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice behind the scenes peek at the NFL Network and by extension the NFL. Rich, you have quite a life going, I hope you are enjoying it.

[╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up in a family that worshiped football. Every Sunday, Monday & Thursday. Every holiday, every family gathering that I can remember has a TV with a game on, even if it was just an old game being replayed. Because, yes, my family had games on tapes. My grandmother kept team schedules, rankings, game times and scores posted to a wall in the hallway [it took up most of the hall] and everyone in the family had their own team.

Now, that being said, I still managed to know absolutely nothing about football. I wouldn't have even be able to tell you who was playing offense and who defense.

Then I started dating a boy, whose life also revolved around football. Draft included. He gave me this book as my initiation into the NFL during our first football season together.

I read it, all the way. Rich Eisen is a fabulous writer, hilarious and sufficiently explanatory. I wasn't ever confused or bored or smothered by technical terms. When I was done with the book, I felt I actually had a legitimately better understanding of the game, the rules and the culture.

Love it.

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot better than I thought it might be. Rich Eisen, aside from being a good host on the NFL Network, is actually a pretty witty writer. This book takes the reader through one year in the life of the NFL...on the NFL network. Starting with the year's Super Bowl between the Steelers and Seahawks, through the owner's meetings and the combine, through the draft and the Hall of Fame inductions, and finally to the network's first 8-game package of games during the 2006 season. A whole lot of name drops by Eisen, which gets old, but also a lot of great inside stories. I learned that Marshall Faulk is a pretty funny guy. A quick read too at 300 pages, but a majority of those pages have photos on them so it's like reading a 200 page book. Good stuff.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being so disappointed in the last sports memoir I read, I was hesitant to read this one. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. I loved it. Rich Eisen is one of the reasons I love watching the NFL network so much. I love the way he brings his wit into sports broadcasting, and his wit was very much in evidence in this book. It had interesting behind the scenes information mixed with entertaining personal stories, all told with his characteristicly humble sense of humor. If you're not an NFL fan, this isn't the book for you. But if you are, this really is the man with Total Access.

[John Setear · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this on CD, read by the author. He seems like a nice guy and more self-effacing than many TV personalities. The book is basically a diary of a year in the life of an NFL Total Access broadcaster. It's fairly chronological. It's not hard hitting in any way. You won't learn much about broadcasting or the inner workings of the NFL. You will learn something about Super Bowl Week, the Pro Bowl, the NFL Hall of Fame, the draft, and some particular games. You will read some funny anecdotes. I'm sure it's better than many books written by actual NFL players. I found it entertaining, and I'm glad I "read" it, but it just wasn't especially insightful or memorable.

[Luis Perez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nonfiction. A look inside the NFL and the beginnings and rise of the NFL Network, as told by longtime sportscaster and face of NFL Network Rich Eisen.

A sometimes very corny book, not well written, but for any football fan, still an enjoyable read for the anecdotes and behind-the-scenes look at life in professional football and all that is entailed in covering the nation's most popular sport.

[Andy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps this was a case of misplaced expectations, but I wasn't real impressed with this book. I was thinking and hoping that it would be a story about the ins and outs of the NFL. Instead, what I got were the ins and outs of the NFL Network. There were some entertaining anecdotes, but I think this book would be far more enjoyable for someone wanting to learn about working at a TV network than the world of professional football.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book. Some real good insight into the The Combine for college players trying to make the pros. Also a hilarious story about the week at the Pro Bowl where the author, Rick Eisen, finds himself the butt of a hilarious practical joke. Good read, dragged in a few spots, but worth the read.

[Ian Oxborrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it is now slightly dated, what with new rules/regulations in the NFL, it is still thoroughly enjoyable and gives a brief glimpse into the world of Pro football and the media's relationship with it. I definitely recommend!

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

Really loved this book. It was a great look inside the NFL -- especially while enjoying Pro Bowl weekend in Hawaii. Nice to see the antics that the players, coaches and staff get into -- and how they experience our sport.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read for fans of the NFL...I learned plenty of trivia about the draft and scouting combines.

[Kolt Time 71 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you need to know

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I'd be getting a glimpse behind the scenes of the NFL...instead mostly it's an advertisement for the NFL Network.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for any NFL fan. An easy read, entertaining stories, Eisen has a good sense of humor.

[Josh Liller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts slow but has some fun stories.

[Mike Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great inside stories if you're a die hard NFL fan.

[Sean Suslowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book, Couldn't put it down.

[Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eisen has some great stories. Any football fan would enjoy reading this.

[Grant Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice behind the scenes peek at the NFL Network and by extension the NFL. Rich, you have quite a life going, I hope you are enjoying it.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting about nfl business.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at the first two seasons of NFL Network, worth reading if you're an NFL fan

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished 3/18/2015. A fun quick read. Nice anecdotes.

[Jeremy Ginsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

book from 2007...player references outdated