Spies on the Sidelines: The High-Stakes World of NFL Espionage

by Kevin Bryant

The first book to fully explore the extraordinary covert actions NFL teams are willing to take in order to win.

Spies disguised as priests. Secret surveillance of targets' movements. Radio frequency jamming. Tapped telephones. These might sound like acts of espionage right out of the Cold War or a spy movie--but in fact came straight from the National Football League.

In Spies on the The High-Stakes World of NFL Espionage, Kevin Bryant provides the first in-depth investigation of spying in professional football, as well as the countermeasures utilized to defend against these threats. Spanning across all teams and eras, Bryant shines a light on the shady world of NFL reconnaissance--from clandestine photography and hidden draft prospects to listening devices and stolen documents--along with the permissible, if sometimes questionable, spy techniques teams utilize day in and day out to gain an advantage over their opponents.

Written by a former Special Agent with decades of experience collecting and safeguarding information for the Department of Defense, Spies on the Sidelines reveals that, behind the game-day action, professional football can be as cloak-and-dagger as American intelligence agencies. This fascinating and expansive compilation of NFL spy anecdotes exposes the extraordinary measures teams are willing to take in order to win.

Genres: Sports, Football

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2022

About the author

Kevin Bryant is an Army veteran with over twenty years of experience safeguarding and gathering information for the Department of Defense, including thirteen years as a Special Agent during which he conducted national security investigations and instructed federal agents in training.

Kevin graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) with a B.A. in History, and graduated with top honors from American Military University with an M.A. in Intelligence Studies and an M.S. in Sports Management.

During his senior year of high school he was selected onto the East-West Ambassadors National Select soccer team, composed of elite high school players from across the United States, and in college he played NCAA soccer for UCSC.

Reviews

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a football fan looking for more insight into the world of the NFL, don't miss this one. Written by an author with experience in the world of espionage, the extreme measures coaches and teams will go to obtain an edge are fascinating. From hidden cameras to fake fans, the true stories teams have from used are detailed with names and dates. But almost as interesting are the measures other coaches, teams and even players resort to while attempting to protect their plans. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Mayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read an advanced copy of this book since I'm lucky enough to know the author. I do not follow the NFL or care much about professional football, but I still found the book very interesting and learned a lot about the crazy lengths the coaches and organizations go to in order to gain even the slightest advantages. There's a lot of interesting anecdotes about how the game has evolved over the years and how the espionage techniques adapt based on changing rules and technology. Football fans will definitely enjoy reading this book!

[Gary Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING INSIGHTS INTO THE SPY WORLD OF THE NFL!
I received an advanced copy for review since I have professional career experience working as a contractor engaged with US intelligence agencies.
I found Kevin Bryant's well documented book on how, why, when, where and specifically who was engaged either in direct espionage or actively trying to prevent the disclosure or compromise of NFL team secrets!
The multitude of examples Mr. Bryant uses to make the cases for the extreme extent of espionage the NFL coaches and associates are engaged is vast. Knowing how the coaches and owners personal ethics and integrity were involved, really changed some of my opinions of them.
"Whatever it takes " , truly means that. Football is WAR!
I highly recommend this book for any individual who loves not just football, but all competitive sports( Male and female).
Also the book would make a great Holiday gift!
Fast read with fascinating anecdotes!
I hope that he writes one about baseball!

[Edwin Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth look at the history of spying, cheating, and bending the rules in the NFL is covered in SPIES ON THE SIDELINES, by Kevin Bryant. Along with the history, the book introduces many of the major characters in the NFL that were always look for any advantages they could get, whether allowed or not. As these questionable acts are discovered and preventative measures taken, the reader can see how the ensuing rules created from these incidents forever affected how the game was prepared for and played.
Bryant does a good job of explaining how the spying and rule bending happened and spends equal time explaining the results that included punishments, rule changes, and increased security measures. While there were a lot of brash, outlandish characters in the NFL that sought ways to get a leg up, Bryant is very clinical in his analysis of what was going on. The last section of the book covers solely the recent eras of the New England Patriots. Bryant starts this section with a clear vision that the Patriots, because of so many teams and players have so many complaints, are guilty until proven innocent. While many would say this is a proper approach, it counters the design of the book up until this point. The book feels mostly unbiased in it's approach by simply recounting events and their repercussions until this part, but even the title of section refers to the team as the "Cheatriots", immediately implying guilt.
I really enjoyed this SPIES ON THE SIDELINES and all of the crazy but true stories about how teams did anything and everything to win over the years. Even the part about the New England Patriots had a lot of good info and analysis, it was just clouded by a clear prejudgment that they were always guilty.
Thank you to Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Kevin Bryant, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Robert D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was presented an advance copy of Kevin’s book and had to carve out time to dig into this great read. Once I cracked it open I could not put it down. Kevin’s unique national security background and football knowledge pair up to give the reader a surreal experience and new perspective on how to enjoy professional football. If your a football history junkie, he has you covered by providing countless historical examples of how the game has changed due to spying and intel gathering. If you want a glimpse into the world of espionage and intelligence/counter intelligence, he’s got you covered. Insightful and thoughtful, Kevin’s writing and analysis will appeal to the most detail loving readers but is written for just about anyone to enjoy. You’ll never watch an NFL game the same way after reading this book.

[Alyssa J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book and was captivated from start to finish. Spies on the Sidelines is in a category of its own – it will undoubtedly be the most exhilarating research content you’ll read. Bryant’s expertly written and thoroughly researched anecdotes expose secrets that provide new insight into watching NFL football. This collection of hilarious, informative, and often surprising stories humanizes our favorite (and least favorite) NFL coaches and players in their relentless pursuit of an advantage, a win, or even just a spot on a team. It is truly groundbreaking literature that evokes a sense of excitement and a desire for change in a wide variety of readers!

[David Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to be one of the early readers of this spell binding book. As a retired Naval Officer, I was very interested in the roll of intelligence gathering in non military applications. I was surprised at the level and sophistication of the intelligence processes being used today in professional football. This book has it all, the techniques, the tools, and the results of a well coordinated intelligence gathering industry used by various professional football organizations. It's a great read!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy in time for Christmas. This entertaining read gave a behind-the-scenes look at how coaches and players engage each other both on and off of the field. It should not come as a surprise that teams spy on each other, but it was so interesting to read account after account of teams and coaches probing the security defenses of opponents. No one will be shocked to learn the Patriots probably cheated, but they will be surprised to learn the Patriots were merely the ones that were caught. This is a great read for any NFL fan.

[Justin Threatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be loaned a copy of this book before its release, and I would recommend this book to anyone. As someone who loves sports, but doesn't follow football closely I was able to gain so much knowledge while being entertained during the read. Who doesn't love the mystery of spying and borderline criminal activity within a world renown organization?

I thoroughly enjoyed how carefully NFL personnel have to move while speaking about their plans...even when its around FAMILY!? You never know who might be listening

[Danielle Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book and I was hooked from the first page. I love the way Kevin writes. He keeps you engaged the entire way through. I will say I am not the biggest professional football fan out there, but getting a behind the scenes look at the game day preparation that you never hear about was so interesting. Very informative and I can promise that my thoughts watching any NFL game will be completely different now!

[John D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I received an advanced copy of this book and really enjoyed learning about the darker side of the sport. From the origins of signal stealing, to the implementation of modern day technology, Spies on the Sidelines, reveals a much deeper context for the length that NFL teams will go to in order to get an advantage over an opponent. If you like football and would like to know more about what happens behind the scenes and sidelines, this book will provide.

[Michael D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spies on the Sidelines: The High-Stakes World of NFL Espionage provided insights on the inner working of the NFL world. The subject appears well researched with all the details of various incidents within the NFL. It was a fun read while reading about teams, owners, coaches and players that I enjoyed watching in the NFL. I throughly enjoyed reading Spies on the Sidelines: The High-Stakes World of NFL Espionage. Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Thompson

[Attila Letai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to read for anyone who wants to understand more about the uses of today's espionage in football and the pitfalls encountered when amateurs operate as "spies" trying to achieve their goal at all cost. It also provides extremely interesting background information of everything from the "sidelines"of football never available anywhere else as relevant to reason for cause and effect of all that makes football successful today.

[Carmen Naas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book and was captivated from the entire read. Spies on the Sidelines will keep you enthralled that you won't realize you're up way past your bed time. Kevin's book with provide insight into the NFL football that will make you a fan of the sport if you're not already. Regardless of if you're a sports fanatic, a sleuth who enjoys a good spy book or have an interest in legal issues this book will keep you entertained and enlightened.

[Jandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have any interest in football. Every couple of years, I try to watch an NFL game and lose interest. To me, it is always been big men in tight pants bending over in between beer commercials.

That being said, this aspect of professional football is incredibly intriguing. I may even look for more books on this subject.

The author has a very good grasp of the subject and I hope he is able to write another book on the subject, or something similar.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book and was fascinated from start to finish. A long time fan of professional football, I grew to suspect that there was much more going on behind the scenes than I knew. However, Kevin’s extensive research shed light on the far-reaching aspects of the game that I never imagined. This is a great read - enlightening. Interesting, and well written!

[Ivam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its super biased. The author has cleary some patriots issues. Like the Rams chapter, its spent a whole chapter saying that they cheated and in the last paragraph say that the coaches were allowed to watch the practice. Must be a fan of a team that was beaten repeatedly. But besides that it could use the same depth of the beginning of the book (al davis era) all the way to the end.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy. I was surprised how much I learned, especially about the Patriots!

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A study of intelligence-gathering and espionage by NFL teams. Ends with a case study of violations by the New England Patriots.

[Dave Cottenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the espionage that has happened through the years in the NFL with particular focus on the modern day New England Patriots. Some interesting anecdotes but nothing over the top and nothing too shocking. The focus on the Patriots was well done, however Patriots fans will no doubt feel victimized.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Bryant's "Spies on the Sidelines" is an excellent work combining historical aspects of professional football with the cutthroat nature of the espionage industry. I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of the book and found it expertly researched, well laid out and delivers a compelling picture of spycraft conducted within the NFL. I highly recommend the book to football fans seeking a unique and heretofore untapped aspect of the NFL.