First published 2018
Mark Leibovich explores professional football at its peak of cultural dominance and economic success. The New York Times bestselling author of This Town turns his investigative eye toward America's most powerful sports league. After years of failed attempts, Leibovich finally gains access to Tom Brady in 2014, beginning a four year journey through the NFL's inner workings. He witnesses the Patriots' Super Bowl victory, the Deflategate scandal, and the league's collision with America's culture wars during the Trump era. Leibovich moves from owners meetings to draft rooms to game sidelines, observing figures like Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The book captures football during a moment of transition, as explosive revenue growth from new stadiums coincides with growing concerns about player safety and brain injuries. Leibovich examines how the sport that defines American culture grapples with its own contradictions and mounting challenges.
Genres: business, american, sports, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-access, social-commentary
Setting: America, New York
Period: 2014, Trump Era
400 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press