Winning the NFL Way: Leadership Lessons from Football's Top Head Coaches

by Bob LaMonte and Robert L. Shook

Book Overview

Meet Mike Holmgren, Jon Gruden, John Fox, Andy Reid, and Mike Sherman -- top NFL head coaches whose careers rest on their ability to lead other men to win in the fiercely competitive world of professional football.

Being an NFL coach is the ultimate high-pressure job. The average life span of a coach is two and a half years, so there is an enormous amount of pressure and scrutiny, from demanding owners, millions of fickle fans, and unyielding...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060738839
• ISBN13: 9780060738839
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: Harper Business
• Length: 243 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Insightful

I understand much better now about what an agent actually does for a client and what unique skills and talents a prospective NFL head coach must possess.

The NFL Way Analysis

I would recommend this book to anyone. You don't even really have to know about football. It gives you life lessons, as well as football lessons, and business lessons. These lessons are told by Bob LaMonte and the five head coaches he represents. These coaches include Mike Holmgren, John Grueden, John Fox, Andy Reid, and Mike Sherman. Unlike many other authors, Bob LaMonte has been up close and personal with these coaches. In order to represent them as an agent he must know them very well. All of these coaches have started in a low profile job environment. In fact three of them had never even had a head coaching job at a high school. In order to go big you must start small. People who have a small job focus on there goals and when they become successful they set their sights one step higher.

Winner

This combines the leadership insights of 5 outstanding coaches in the NFL, the savvy of a top agent and the writing skill of an author who tells their story with gripping clarity. It is an absolute winner, a must read for anyone who truly wants to understand what makes a National Football League team/franchise click. The coaches are an NFL who's who - Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren, John Fox, Andy Reid, Mike Sherman. The agent is Bob LaMonte, a former coach himself, who has rocketed to the top as a sports agent. The author is Robert L. Shook who (according to the jacket) has authored 48 books and his talent shows throughout as he makes the insights of agent and coaches come alive. Beyond this, the book will be invaluable to business leaders; indeed anyone who has, or wants to assume responsibility for developing an organization, motivating people, achieving personal goals, or coming out a winner. "Winning The NFL" way is both a winner and a guide to winning.

A Must Read Hybrid from Sports and Business Worlds

Before being accused of `going Hollywood,' I was an NFL writer for 20 years, the final 10 for The New York Times and USA Today. I wrote a book with Joe Montana and made a football film with Oliver Stone. And I can tell you this: Bob LaMonte is a classic American story, a former high school teacher who now controls the NFL coaching market as an agent much like Leigh Steinberg did with quarterbacks. LaMonte's top clients are larger than life, Andy Reid in Philly, Jon Gruden in Tampa, Mike Holmgren in Seattle, John Fox in Carolina, Mike Sherman in Green Bay. I was the one to had the pleasure of telling Bob LaMonte all about elite business author Bob Shook, who has written more books than some people have even had a chance to read; the two had crossed paths and it just so happened I knew them both well. So it was no surprise to see none other than 60 Minutes flashing their new book, Winning the NFL Way, on the screen last weekend. I know first-hand that it is on the desks of anyone who matters in the NFL. And I expect it to become a must-read for the business community as well, based on Bob Shook's track record. I am just stunned that LaMonte would reveal his trade secrets at such an early age! So if information truly is power you need to catch this one. Unless of course you want the train to pass you by ... Richard Weiner Creative Director STS Entertainment

One of the best books I've ever read

Whether you're reading this book for it's business principles, leadership ideas, or just want a great book to read on vacation, you'll love this book. My wife isn't a sport fan and she loved this book. These five coaches share their leadership principles and even their philosophies, work ethics and superstitions through deeply entertaining stories.