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The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football
The definitive guide to the real men of the NFL tight ends.
There is no profession in sports like the NFL tight end. None. You must mash 320-pound defensive ends in the run game. You must twist your torso at impossible angles to make acrobatic catches downfield in the pass game. You must have a certain element of crazy to you, too. The tight end is a blend of brain and brawn and bruises…so many bruises. BLOOD AND GUTS tracks the fascinating rise of this position one tight end at a time, from Mike Ditka and John Mackey in the '60s to Rob Gronkowski today. As much as football has changed over the years, there has always been one glorious the tight end.
None of this is by accident, either. There’s a reason all of these players were magnetically drawn to the position.
In BLOOD AND GUTS, Tyler Dunne interviews the greatest tight ends ever, whose stories reveal why they were uniquely qualified to serve as the blood and the guts of football—the players keeping this sport alive and well. There’s a reason Mike Ditka epitomized true toughness in pro football through the 1960s. Ben Coates, the son of a World War II vet, put an entire childhood spent building roofs to use by smashing defenders in the open field. Tony Gonzalez matured from a kid terrified of bullies to an absolute beast terrifying defensive backs. His entire life, Jeremy Shockey has been hellbent on sticking it to anyone who doubts him. And from afar, a young “Gronk” idolized Shockey and took his approach to a whole new level.
Here, great American tight ends share countless harrowing, never-before-told stories. One moment, a tight end (Gonzalez) nearly socks a coach in the eye. The next, a tight end (Shockey) is breaking the orbital bone of someone in a bar fight.
There’s no one in sports like them. BLOOD AND GUTS brings them to life.
There is no profession in sports like the NFL tight end. None. You must mash 320-pound defensive ends in the run game. You must twist your torso at impossible angles to make acrobatic catches downfield in the pass game. You must have a certain element of crazy to you, too. The tight end is a blend of brain and brawn and bruises…so many bruises. BLOOD AND GUTS tracks the fascinating rise of this position one tight end at a time, from Mike Ditka and John Mackey in the '60s to Rob Gronkowski today. As much as football has changed over the years, there has always been one glorious the tight end.
None of this is by accident, either. There’s a reason all of these players were magnetically drawn to the position.
In BLOOD AND GUTS, Tyler Dunne interviews the greatest tight ends ever, whose stories reveal why they were uniquely qualified to serve as the blood and the guts of football—the players keeping this sport alive and well. There’s a reason Mike Ditka epitomized true toughness in pro football through the 1960s. Ben Coates, the son of a World War II vet, put an entire childhood spent building roofs to use by smashing defenders in the open field. Tony Gonzalez matured from a kid terrified of bullies to an absolute beast terrifying defensive backs. His entire life, Jeremy Shockey has been hellbent on sticking it to anyone who doubts him. And from afar, a young “Gronk” idolized Shockey and took his approach to a whole new level.
Here, great American tight ends share countless harrowing, never-before-told stories. One moment, a tight end (Gonzalez) nearly socks a coach in the eye. The next, a tight end (Shockey) is breaking the orbital bone of someone in a bar fight.
There’s no one in sports like them. BLOOD AND GUTS brings them to life.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2022
18 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 2, 2022
The position of tight end in football is one of the most challenging positions. For a player to excel in this position, he must have the strength to block defensive linemen who may weigh over 300 pounds, be smart enough to read pass coverage by linebackers and safeties, and also be quick enough to outrun 180-pound cornerbacks. But as any football fan knows, there are many who have not only played this position but have done so at a very high level. Some of these exceptional tight ends are profiled in this entertaining book by Tyler Dunn.
It should be noted that this is not a ranking of the best players to play the position and it is not meant to be taken that just because a player is not profiled that he would not be considered one of the best to have suited up at tight end. It starts with Mike Ditka, who began the change of strategy in the use of tight ends to be effective pass receivers as well as blockers. Dunn interviews and shares the stories of 15 tight ends from Ditka to George Kittle and in between, there are so many interesting stories, on-field recaps and very personal memories.
Of the memories and stories, I felt the most emotional ones were for Dallas Clark (who lost his mother to a heart attack) and for Jimmy Graham, who was literally dropped off by his mother at a group home with his clothes in a garbage bag. Those two stories both resulted in producing great tight ends who would stop at nothing to succeed. The circumstances are very different and their paths were certainly not identical, but they both made for compelling reading.
That isn’t to say that every player profiled in this book had tragic or hard stories. Some were out of fear (hard to believe Tony Gonzalez didn’t want to play football because he was afraid of the hard contact), some were just from the “boys being boys” category (Jeremy Shockey’s battles with his siblings) and some were just fun (Rob Gronkowski is probably the most notable party animal). But they, along with all the other tight ends profiled, had in common an unquenchable appetite for success and an incredible work ethic to make sure he did his best to achieve that success.
It should also be noted that while the actual game text is not plentiful in this book, the plays and games that are covered are recapped in an excellent manner. The most compelling of these is one of the most incredible individual performances in NFL history – Kellen Winslow’s performance in the 1982 playoffs for the San Diego Charges in their memorable win over the Miami Dolphins. That is just one example of the in-game coverage that is very good when it is presented in the context of that player’s story.
Football fans who remember many of the great tight ends since the era of Ditka and John Mackey will love reading about these players, their stories and their performances. For me, this book was much like Gronkowski’s early NFL career – just a lot of fun to read.
I wish to thank Twelve Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
It should be noted that this is not a ranking of the best players to play the position and it is not meant to be taken that just because a player is not profiled that he would not be considered one of the best to have suited up at tight end. It starts with Mike Ditka, who began the change of strategy in the use of tight ends to be effective pass receivers as well as blockers. Dunn interviews and shares the stories of 15 tight ends from Ditka to George Kittle and in between, there are so many interesting stories, on-field recaps and very personal memories.
Of the memories and stories, I felt the most emotional ones were for Dallas Clark (who lost his mother to a heart attack) and for Jimmy Graham, who was literally dropped off by his mother at a group home with his clothes in a garbage bag. Those two stories both resulted in producing great tight ends who would stop at nothing to succeed. The circumstances are very different and their paths were certainly not identical, but they both made for compelling reading.
That isn’t to say that every player profiled in this book had tragic or hard stories. Some were out of fear (hard to believe Tony Gonzalez didn’t want to play football because he was afraid of the hard contact), some were just from the “boys being boys” category (Jeremy Shockey’s battles with his siblings) and some were just fun (Rob Gronkowski is probably the most notable party animal). But they, along with all the other tight ends profiled, had in common an unquenchable appetite for success and an incredible work ethic to make sure he did his best to achieve that success.
It should also be noted that while the actual game text is not plentiful in this book, the plays and games that are covered are recapped in an excellent manner. The most compelling of these is one of the most incredible individual performances in NFL history – Kellen Winslow’s performance in the 1982 playoffs for the San Diego Charges in their memorable win over the Miami Dolphins. That is just one example of the in-game coverage that is very good when it is presented in the context of that player’s story.
Football fans who remember many of the great tight ends since the era of Ditka and John Mackey will love reading about these players, their stories and their performances. For me, this book was much like Gronkowski’s early NFL career – just a lot of fun to read.
I wish to thank Twelve Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
November 11, 2022
The Blood and Guts by Tyler Dunne is an excellent history of the tight end position told largely through short biographical sketches of many of the key players, from Ditka and Mackey through to our current group of exceptional tight ends.
I grew up with the Ditkas and the Mackeys, especially Mackey since I was a Colts fan before they deserted me (that is another story), so the first part of this book was a nostalgia trip for me. Since I have continued to follow football, the rest of the book also brings back memories, but those childhood memories are special.
Aside from that aspect, this book does an excellent job of charting the evolution of the position from Luke Johnsos (the mind behind utilizing someone like Ditka) to the present. What really appealed to me was the way in which this was done. We don't just learn about how tight ends became more than just extra linemen who periodically caught a pass, we learn about them as people, what made them excel at their position. And a lot of it had as much to do with mindset as with physical ability.
I would recommend this to any fan of football. I would especially recommend this to any fan who usually doesn't read books about the sport because they tend toward dry and/or biased. Ignore little minds that apparently are butthurt because their fave didn't get mentioned enough (though mentioned throughout the book), stupid is as stupid does. This is not one of those books.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I grew up with the Ditkas and the Mackeys, especially Mackey since I was a Colts fan before they deserted me (that is another story), so the first part of this book was a nostalgia trip for me. Since I have continued to follow football, the rest of the book also brings back memories, but those childhood memories are special.
Aside from that aspect, this book does an excellent job of charting the evolution of the position from Luke Johnsos (the mind behind utilizing someone like Ditka) to the present. What really appealed to me was the way in which this was done. We don't just learn about how tight ends became more than just extra linemen who periodically caught a pass, we learn about them as people, what made them excel at their position. And a lot of it had as much to do with mindset as with physical ability.
I would recommend this to any fan of football. I would especially recommend this to any fan who usually doesn't read books about the sport because they tend toward dry and/or biased. Ignore little minds that apparently are butthurt because their fave didn't get mentioned enough (though mentioned throughout the book), stupid is as stupid does. This is not one of those books.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
February 11, 2023
Along with a natural inclination towards any new NFL-related tome, I have a special interest in the tight end position due to--of all things--a proclivity towards drafting them in fantasy football. Here, author Tyler Dunne composes a history of the TE position through a series of mini-bios from Mike Ditka to George Kittle and everyone in between.
The calling card of "The Blood and Guts" is how Dunne gains personal access to each of the figures here. So, these tales are told "from the horse's mouths", so to speak. Each mini-bio presents its own unique energy depending on the person being chronicled at that moment. In this way, "Blood and Guts" tells a compelling history of tight ends simply by letting them be heard.
That being said, this approach does eschew some higher-level analysis or context-building. To tell the entire story of a football position, more X's and O's or filling-in-the-blanks would be needed as opposed to just the testimony of the men themselves. This is all to say that at times, "Blood and Guts" did feel a bit catering to the athletes (albeit necessary in favor of access).
Overall, though, I enjoyed "The Blood and Guts" and would probably give it 4.5 stars if able. I learned a lot about some TE players before my time, as well as had some great memories/nostalgia about those I remembered seeing. I'll round down for the explained lack of overall perspective, but that really is the only thing keeping this from the full 5 stars.
The calling card of "The Blood and Guts" is how Dunne gains personal access to each of the figures here. So, these tales are told "from the horse's mouths", so to speak. Each mini-bio presents its own unique energy depending on the person being chronicled at that moment. In this way, "Blood and Guts" tells a compelling history of tight ends simply by letting them be heard.
That being said, this approach does eschew some higher-level analysis or context-building. To tell the entire story of a football position, more X's and O's or filling-in-the-blanks would be needed as opposed to just the testimony of the men themselves. This is all to say that at times, "Blood and Guts" did feel a bit catering to the athletes (albeit necessary in favor of access).
Overall, though, I enjoyed "The Blood and Guts" and would probably give it 4.5 stars if able. I learned a lot about some TE players before my time, as well as had some great memories/nostalgia about those I remembered seeing. I'll round down for the explained lack of overall perspective, but that really is the only thing keeping this from the full 5 stars.
May 4, 2024
(3.5 stars) (Audiobook) A bit more of an interesting read than I originally expected. This work looks at the Tight End position in football, one that has evolved from extra blocker/occasional receiver to now a key part of any offensive attack, especially in the NFL. Dunne describes the evolution of the position by talking with some of the best to ever play the position. From Ditka to Gronkowski, Dunne offers their take on how they came to redefine the TE slot. Along the way, it is as much an in-depth bio of the men who played that spot. Some of the backstories are engaging and at times horrifying. Yet, these men made their mark on the game that is the unquestioned American pastime.
My main complaint is that the audiobook reader tries to imitate the accents/manners of the individual players, which was honestly quite annoying. This is a case where the hard-copy/e-copy version would be superior to the audiobook. Not sure I completely agree with the premise that the TE is the “Everyman” of the NFL, but you could say about any position on the field, as most of the players in the NFL tend to come from tough upbringings, either socio-economically or family-wise. Still, this is one for the NFL fan, and given all the attention paid to the latest +1 for Taylor Swift (Travis Kelce), worth a read to understand why the TE has evolved into such a key part of the modern game.
My main complaint is that the audiobook reader tries to imitate the accents/manners of the individual players, which was honestly quite annoying. This is a case where the hard-copy/e-copy version would be superior to the audiobook. Not sure I completely agree with the premise that the TE is the “Everyman” of the NFL, but you could say about any position on the field, as most of the players in the NFL tend to come from tough upbringings, either socio-economically or family-wise. Still, this is one for the NFL fan, and given all the attention paid to the latest +1 for Taylor Swift (Travis Kelce), worth a read to understand why the TE has evolved into such a key part of the modern game.
January 22, 2024
It's not so much a book as a collection of 15 features on tight ends. Each chapter is a feature on a different player who excelled at the position.
Travis Kelce and Jason Witten both are ranked in the top 4 all-time in catches among tight ends, but somehow neither of them got a chapter. (I'm not sure that either was even mentioned, and that's weird, with Kelce regarded by many as the best to play the position.) Mark Bruener, on the other hand, got a chapter. I like Bruener (I saw him play in college, and his kid went to the high school about a mile away from my house) but he's not up there on the Kelce-Witten level in the grand scheme of them. He's in there, apparently, because Dunne got an interview with him, but could not get a sit-down with Kelce or Witten. Todd Christensen had some prolific seasons with the Raiders in the '80s; he probably also should have been included.
Too much hyperbole in the writing, I thought. "This guy is so great." "This guy can't be covered." "This guy parties so hard." "This guy talks so much smack."
The book was OK, but not anywhere close to the big-time football books that I've read. Jeff Pearlman, for example, has written a half dozen football biographies; this book doesn't get anywhere close to those lofty heights.
Travis Kelce and Jason Witten both are ranked in the top 4 all-time in catches among tight ends, but somehow neither of them got a chapter. (I'm not sure that either was even mentioned, and that's weird, with Kelce regarded by many as the best to play the position.) Mark Bruener, on the other hand, got a chapter. I like Bruener (I saw him play in college, and his kid went to the high school about a mile away from my house) but he's not up there on the Kelce-Witten level in the grand scheme of them. He's in there, apparently, because Dunne got an interview with him, but could not get a sit-down with Kelce or Witten. Todd Christensen had some prolific seasons with the Raiders in the '80s; he probably also should have been included.
Too much hyperbole in the writing, I thought. "This guy is so great." "This guy can't be covered." "This guy parties so hard." "This guy talks so much smack."
The book was OK, but not anywhere close to the big-time football books that I've read. Jeff Pearlman, for example, has written a half dozen football biographies; this book doesn't get anywhere close to those lofty heights.
November 6, 2022
Finding good football books always seems more difficult than it ought to be. Most offerings tend to be either too dry or too, let’s say, fan-driven. Either the sport just doesn’t lend itself well to the format or the best writers in the sport don’t prioritize this particular medium.
Thus I was especially delighted by The Blood and Guts, a lively, narrative-driven history of tight ends in the NFL.
Dunne does a masterful job of blending his information with good storytelling, and as a result we get a good mix of Xs and Os and zany off-field stories relating to the league’s most famous tight ends.
As long as you’ve some historical football knowledge, you’ll likely recognize all or most of the players featured here, but you’ll also learn something new about each of them.
It’s refreshing and different to get something NFL-related that is both long form and position specific that doesn’t read like a dictionary. This is fun *and* informative and ought to work for any fan of the game.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Thus I was especially delighted by The Blood and Guts, a lively, narrative-driven history of tight ends in the NFL.
Dunne does a masterful job of blending his information with good storytelling, and as a result we get a good mix of Xs and Os and zany off-field stories relating to the league’s most famous tight ends.
As long as you’ve some historical football knowledge, you’ll likely recognize all or most of the players featured here, but you’ll also learn something new about each of them.
It’s refreshing and different to get something NFL-related that is both long form and position specific that doesn’t read like a dictionary. This is fun *and* informative and ought to work for any fan of the game.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
November 4, 2022
I was excited to receive an advanced readers copy of “The Blood and Guts” by Tyler Dunne. And the book did not disappoint. Dunne has authored a very interesting sports book: which doesn’t often occur. Dunne has mixed together both the background stories of a number of legendary NFL tight ends while also telling fascinating on-the-field stories. Dunne begins his narrative with the (still living!) legendary Chicago Bear Mike Ditka — my childhood football hero —and advances through the greats all the way to current superstar George Kittle. And we get full -on Rob Gronkowski too. Of particular interest is the tale of one Jimmy Graham, who I had little interest in while watching him play on Sundays but to whom I now realize and respect what he overcame to become a great professional tight end.
So I feel fortunate to be one of the first to read “The Blood And Guts.” And one the first to give this book 5 big ole stars.
So I feel fortunate to be one of the first to read “The Blood And Guts.” And one the first to give this book 5 big ole stars.
July 20, 2023
A fascinating look at how the tight end position has changed football over the years. One time they were looked at as just a blocking position and even though Dikta really began the change with his style and play it still took years before everything would change for the position.
Here the author takes you through the different men and with their interviews and stories you get to look at the position and look into the men that played the position as well. I liked Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark which I will always remember for the catch, and Jimmy Graham, I really liked the look into the life of Jeremy Shockey and his story and of course, Gronk his story was funny and really added to this book can’t have it without him. Of course, though I still remember Kellen Wislow's game in the playoffs and watching John Mackey who along with Ditka changed the position. A good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com
Here the author takes you through the different men and with their interviews and stories you get to look at the position and look into the men that played the position as well. I liked Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark which I will always remember for the catch, and Jimmy Graham, I really liked the look into the life of Jeremy Shockey and his story and of course, Gronk his story was funny and really added to this book can’t have it without him. Of course, though I still remember Kellen Wislow's game in the playoffs and watching John Mackey who along with Ditka changed the position. A good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com
February 25, 2024
Really fun football book! I think it has a great combination of history/oral history of the game and personal tales. If you’re looking for a real X&O breakdown of the position through out the ages, this is not it. Dunne is a journalist, not a coach. This book highlights the stories and personalities of some of the best and most interesting players in the history of the position. The takes are often one sided from the highlighted player’s point of view but it allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the individual. There are some readers who can’t see beyond their fandoms and negatively review the novel because their favorite TE is not featured (Witten and Kelce being the big ones).
November 14, 2022
I really liked this! This first caught my eye because Gronk has always been one of my favorite football players, and I enjoy watching football in general, but I don't know THAT much about the different positions etc. The role of a tight end in today's game is fairly unique and has changed over time - a situation that this book demonstrates by discussing several of the best tight ends chronologically. This felt like a great way to convey the intended points. Would recommend to people like me who enjoy football but are not experts - if you are not at all a fan I wouldn't bother with this.
January 6, 2023
This book is quite bad. With a better journalist or writer I think it could have been a really fascinating oral history. However there is basically no critical thinking applied to either the commentary or how stories are ordered, etc. Really anything as well as having not a ton of explanation of the details of how the tight end actually changed offense schematically. Continuously asked myself did gooddell write this? A rob lowe nfl hat? It’s truly so bad which devalues the few cool stories and quotes
December 23, 2022
I really liked this book. The topic of a book about tight ends in the NFL was great. The majority of the tight ends I read about I have watched and saw their impact on their teams and the game. Many of the tight ends felt that their position was not particularly noticed or appreciated, yet it is a very important position in the offense. I enjoyed reading about what made them successful and what they did to be one of the best. A fun book to read.
December 24, 2022
Through short biographies of big name players (e.g., Ditka, Shannon Sharpe), it was awesome to learn about how the tight end position has evolved over the decades. I enjoyed reading about how Mike Ditka essentially invented the modern day tight end position and then seeing how different coaches and players changed the position to their benefit. Additionally, these players are some of the toughest out there! Overall, this book is a must-read for any football fan.
December 9, 2022
Fun book about the greatest NFL tight ends. The book is more profiles of the greats (Ditka, Newsome, Gonzalez, Gronk, etc) than a history of the position. It was interesting to see how common and different the personalities were that excel at the position, from quiet (Newsome, Clark) to loud and brash (Shockey, Gronk, Kittle). Learned quite a bit from reading.
September 15, 2025
3.5 stars, but I gave it 3 because there's simply no way you can write a book about the right end position without taking an extensive look at Travis Kelce's career. That said, the time given to guys like Ozzie Newsome, Jeremy Shockey, and Jimmy Graham were stellar. Definitely worth the read for football fans, but not enough there to take it from good to great.
November 10, 2022
In his mind, tight ends only count if they play in his preferred style of physical play. He is ignorant. What number did Travis Kelce wear? That makes him a tight end. A New England fan boy who writes his preferences and skews actual history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2023
This was a very fun read. I enjoyed reading the backgrounds, and some fun stories from their playing days. All football fans will enjoy this, but especially those that either played Tight End, or who have a favorite player in the book.
July 28, 2023
Great book written about the history of tight ends. The author dives in the lives and backgrounds of many of the greatest tight ends of all time. He talks about how they became who they did and it is a great read to learn the history about the position.
December 28, 2022
This book was incredible. Ty does such a great job of bringing the TE position to life. You truly learn so much about the position and what it’s like to be a great in the league.
May 3, 2023
Great read
Deep dive and interesting bios
into some of the great tight ends. All of them fought through their own adversity
Deep dive and interesting bios
into some of the great tight ends. All of them fought through their own adversity
December 5, 2024
So many cool firsthand stories from these legendary tight ends and the people that know them
August 7, 2023
The book is told through short biographical sketches of different players and is a must read for anyone who is a fan of football.
February 11, 2023
Each chapter features a prominent tight end that had an impact on the position and the game. This is one of the best books I have ever read. If you like football this is a must read.
January 1, 2023
Tyler Dunne loves football. His writing shows it. He really loves tough football players. His writing of this nook shows it.
Maybe he overwrites a little bit. But he doesn't quite get carried away. He's worshipful, yes. But Dunne has away of humanizing his subjects, bringing the reader right into a scene, and telling quite a story.
Like with Jeremy Shockey, where the joy rises from the page. We're sitting right next to Shockey as he recounts the story of a bar fight that could have changed the trajectory of his life. We can see Dallas Clark weeping in his truck as he recalls the time his mother collapsed and died from a heart attack. We're nodding along with Mike Ditka as he goes on a bout his glory days without sounding out of touch.
It's simple -- football fans will like this book. Non-football fans won't. I'm a football fan, and a fan of this book.
Maybe he overwrites a little bit. But he doesn't quite get carried away. He's worshipful, yes. But Dunne has away of humanizing his subjects, bringing the reader right into a scene, and telling quite a story.
Like with Jeremy Shockey, where the joy rises from the page. We're sitting right next to Shockey as he recounts the story of a bar fight that could have changed the trajectory of his life. We can see Dallas Clark weeping in his truck as he recalls the time his mother collapsed and died from a heart attack. We're nodding along with Mike Ditka as he goes on a bout his glory days without sounding out of touch.
It's simple -- football fans will like this book. Non-football fans won't. I'm a football fan, and a fan of this book.
August 28, 2025
Still good who woulda thought
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews