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Son of Bum: Lessons My Dad Taught Me About Football and Life
Wade Phillips is a highly decorated, innovative football coach with a long career in the NFL. Considered the best Defensive Coordinator in the league, his team today, the Denver Broncos, won the Super Bowl in 2016. Smothering and punishing, Wade's Denver defense has been favorably compared with some of the best of all time. In thirty-four seasons as a coordinator or a head coach, Wade's defenses have finished top 10 in the NFL in twenty-three of them. No wonder he was voted NFL's 2015 Assistant Coach of the Year by the Associated Press.
Known for his homespun, plain-talking ways, Wade is a revolutionary coach who has long believed in using support and camaraderie instead of punishment and anger as a method of inspiring his players and winning America's favorite game. And though his defensive concepts are revolutionary, he would say they begin with common sense.
In his memoir Son of Bum, Wade shows that the roots of his knowledge come from his father, Bum Phillips. A legendary character in NFL history, Bum taught Wade from the beginning that "coaching isn't bitching."
Son of Bum is more than one man's memoir, it's a story of family and football and a father who inspired his son."
Known for his homespun, plain-talking ways, Wade is a revolutionary coach who has long believed in using support and camaraderie instead of punishment and anger as a method of inspiring his players and winning America's favorite game. And though his defensive concepts are revolutionary, he would say they begin with common sense.
In his memoir Son of Bum, Wade shows that the roots of his knowledge come from his father, Bum Phillips. A legendary character in NFL history, Bum taught Wade from the beginning that "coaching isn't bitching."
Son of Bum is more than one man's memoir, it's a story of family and football and a father who inspired his son."
- GenresFootball
256 pages, Hardcover
Published May 2, 2017
2 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 11, 2017
Solid, but not a memorable difference maker.
There are some good tales, including explanation of why the Saints selected George Rogers rather than Lawrence Taylor, and run-ins Phillips had with coaches like Marty Schottenheimer and Jay Gruden while interviewing for jobs. Phillips says that when the Texans were drafting in 2011, he was the guy who stood on the table for J.J. Watt. They would have taken Aldon Smith, but he went 4 picks earlier to the 49ers. Phillips argued to the other coaches and scouts that they could move Mario Williams to outside linebacker to clear a spot for Watt at defensive end, and that he was the guy they should definitely select.
Phillips points out that his dad was fired by the Oilers after three straight seasons of 10-plus wins, which was weird. They just happened to be stuck in the same division as the Steelers.
Phillips seems like a good guy, and nice to see him win a Super Bowl.
This is not, however, up in the top tier of football books. Not as good, for example, as the Jeff Pearlman books on Brett Favre and Walter Payton. Phillips doesn't want to fully pull back the curtain on some issues. With George Rogers, for example, Phillips says the Saints got rid of him after four years because of "off field problems". Rogers had issues with drugs; he says he spent $10,000 on cocaine in his rookie season. But that isn't mentioned in the book. If Phillips were to truly want to take us behind the scenes, there would be some mention of Rogers staggering bleary eyed into practice an hour late or whatever. Phillips doesn't want to get into negative stuff, I guess, so we're getting something less than the full, honest story.
There are some good tales, including explanation of why the Saints selected George Rogers rather than Lawrence Taylor, and run-ins Phillips had with coaches like Marty Schottenheimer and Jay Gruden while interviewing for jobs. Phillips says that when the Texans were drafting in 2011, he was the guy who stood on the table for J.J. Watt. They would have taken Aldon Smith, but he went 4 picks earlier to the 49ers. Phillips argued to the other coaches and scouts that they could move Mario Williams to outside linebacker to clear a spot for Watt at defensive end, and that he was the guy they should definitely select.
Phillips points out that his dad was fired by the Oilers after three straight seasons of 10-plus wins, which was weird. They just happened to be stuck in the same division as the Steelers.
Phillips seems like a good guy, and nice to see him win a Super Bowl.
This is not, however, up in the top tier of football books. Not as good, for example, as the Jeff Pearlman books on Brett Favre and Walter Payton. Phillips doesn't want to fully pull back the curtain on some issues. With George Rogers, for example, Phillips says the Saints got rid of him after four years because of "off field problems". Rogers had issues with drugs; he says he spent $10,000 on cocaine in his rookie season. But that isn't mentioned in the book. If Phillips were to truly want to take us behind the scenes, there would be some mention of Rogers staggering bleary eyed into practice an hour late or whatever. Phillips doesn't want to get into negative stuff, I guess, so we're getting something less than the full, honest story.
July 2, 2017
It not just touchdowns
Oail Andrew “bum” Phillips was a National Football League (NFL) coach from 1975 to 1985, first for the Houston Oilers and then for New Orleans Saints. His son, Wade Phillips, has been a NFL coach since 1976. Wade has coached for the Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcon, San Diego Charger, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Rams. Both men played football and coached high school and college football teams. The memoir focuses on Wade’s football and relationships with players and team owners on and off the field. He highlights how advice from his father influenced his decision as a coach and family man. Readers will learn about the politics between performance, winning, and employment instability. Photographs scattered throughout the book highlight special moments. A fast read that would interest most football fans.
I was randomly chosen through a Goodreads Giveaway to receive this book free from the publisher. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Oail Andrew “bum” Phillips was a National Football League (NFL) coach from 1975 to 1985, first for the Houston Oilers and then for New Orleans Saints. His son, Wade Phillips, has been a NFL coach since 1976. Wade has coached for the Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcon, San Diego Charger, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Rams. Both men played football and coached high school and college football teams. The memoir focuses on Wade’s football and relationships with players and team owners on and off the field. He highlights how advice from his father influenced his decision as a coach and family man. Readers will learn about the politics between performance, winning, and employment instability. Photographs scattered throughout the book highlight special moments. A fast read that would interest most football fans.
I was randomly chosen through a Goodreads Giveaway to receive this book free from the publisher. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 15, 2017
My husband really enjoyed this book. His only comment was that he would have liked more information identifying the pictures. But he said that he liked the behind the scenes story.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
November 28, 2017
Got this for my father in law who loves football - read it quick and I think he will love it!
May 5, 2019
Beautifully written book about family, love, football, and the importance of a daddy to his son.
October 16, 2023
Quick read about a great coaching family. I miss the Bum era. Texas high school football, the Oilers years, the 3-4 defense...all good stuff.
August 2, 2017
I won this in a giveaway. This memoir "Son of Bum", NFL coach Wade Phillips shows readers that the his football knowledge comes from his father, Bum Phillips. A beloved character in NFL history, Bum taught Wade from the beginning that coaching just talking, as well as how to have perspective on the game during tough times. These are lessons that apply both on the field and off, and Wade has passed this wisdom down to his son, Wes Phillips, an NFL coach himself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2017
I received a free copy Via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This was a interesting short read and although the technical side of the football went over my head I still really enjoyed this.
A great read I could not put down.
This was a interesting short read and although the technical side of the football went over my head I still really enjoyed this.
A great read I could not put down.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews