Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL

Lombardi, a sports writer and podcaster for the Ringer, shares insights gained from his 30-year career as an executive staff member of several NFL teams—most notably working for the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick—in this informative take on building successful teams. Lombardi looks at what makes a great head coach, considering San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh and his core belief that “You first start with a structural format and underlying philosophy, then find people who can implement it.” Lombardi then details what is required of a head coach (even including 10 pages of “What to ask a NFL head coach candidate”); how to successfully evaluate character (“You aren’t officially an NFL general manager until you’ve made a huge blunder on draft day”); and what goes into a team’s practice plan (for example, four days before kickoff, Belichick has the team practice with full pads and ends with a team meeting and a meal). Throughout, Lombardi emphasizes the importance of sharing credit with players and staff. This is a solid insider look at how NFL teams are made, and is also a useful guide for sports coaches—or office managers—creating their own teams. [em](Oct.) [/em]