Remembering the Stars of the NFL Glory Years

April 24, 2017
In this book, Stewart, a sports historian and the author of Stan the Man, puts a spotlight on the Hall of Famers who made the 1950s and a’60s the NFL’s glory years. The best of the offensive and defensive players from those decades are showcased here. As the author notes, more than half of the 260 players in the Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio, come from that era. Offensive stars of those years—among them such talents as fullback Jim Brown and quarterbacks Joe Namath, Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Y.A. Tittle, and Johnny Unitas—get extensive coverage from Stewart. He doesn’t ignore the great defensive players of the era or the gritty types on both sides of the ball. In addition to these portraits, Stewart includes a laugh reel of quotations from key players and coaches. With a sharp eye for the game’s contradictions and contrasts, Stewart concludes that the sport has improved drastically in style and quality, but along the way has lost the rough-and-tumble element of the glory years.

August 1, 2017

Stewart (Stan the Man) contends that the 1950s and 1960s were the golden age of professional football. This latest book contains interviews with several players from that era to support that assertion. Stewart has gathered solid stories and commentary about the time and its stars. The main problem with the book is its organization. Although there are chapters on "The Best Offensive Players," "The Toughest Players," and "Hall of Fame Defenders," the rest reads like a grab bag as it transitions from player to player, sometimes by their position but inconsistently expressed. For example, while Hall of Fame fullback Jim Brown is featured in "The Best Offensive Players," Hall of Fame fullback Jim Taylor does not turn up until the section on "The Toughest Players." Similarly, although the first few sections are devoted to Hall of Famers, not all inductees from the time are included. The interviewed players seem to be mostly from the Baltimore Colts and there is very little commentary on the American Football League. The final chapter, "The NFL Then and Now," works best and is the most focused. VERDICT An interesting book to skim, but its randomness is a detriment.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.