American Kings. Seth Wickersham.

  

 American Kings.   Seth Wickersham.

A Biography of the Quarterback. 

 

It is no secret that the most important, perhaps difficult position to play in all sports happens to be the most important position in the game of football as well.   We are talking about the quarterback.    With the responsibilities, and for those that can master the many challenges, comes a kind of “magic” that is nearly indescribable to those that have never played the position.  Magic was a key word used to articulate, for lack of better description, the ability to perform at a high level for some of the quarterbacks throughout this manuscript.    Recent travels in Europe noted beautiful castles ensconced high in the distance off of the Rein River.    Those structures had their caste system in place.    In America, we do not have the same history of venerable buildings.  However, on the grid iron one we could argue that the leaders on the field are a sort of neo royalty in the US.    Hence, that is what esteemed ESPN writer and NFL guru Seth Wickersham purports in his latest book, American Kings.  This is a book that shares the emotion and the aura of what it’s like to play not only the sport but the most important position itself.

There is a lot to like in this three-hundred-and-ninety-page manuscript.    Wickersham interviews and introduces numerous quarterbacks to the mix.  A handful, though, serve as the main characters of this story.    Readers will learn more about Hall of Famers like John Elway, Warren Moon, Steve Young, Joe Montana, Tom Brady and several others whose careers have long passed.  Some of the newer or younger quarterbacks include Caleb Williams, Arch Manning and Colin Hurley, the latter two were covered while still in high school and in their brief college years.   Wickersham puts on an impressive display of access to some insightful stories and captures the mood and aura of so many accomplished players.    What is more, there are noted depths of investigation that seemingly took place in extolling the stories.   One such example involved the last conversation legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas had with a close friend at a Baltimore fitness center including his last words before unceremoniously passing away in 2002 and the age of 69 during the middle of his exercise routine.

Some sections shift abruptly from one idea or example to another, which can make it challenging for the reader to follow the overall flow. The book tends to share a swath of information about the player and then switch to another quarterback.    This happened throughout the book pertaining to all of the main characters documented in the book.    To their credit the publisher carefully placed a border line from one break to another.   However, readers will have to prepare for this frequent occurrence in each of the very lengthy chapters.   The upside to this presentation method is that the reader will not be overwhelmed with content for any one athlete throughout the opus.    The challenge for some may be remembering what was already covered in past pages for each quarterback.       Smoother transitions would help guide readers through the different themes and observations of the author.

One particular section of the book garnered attention and intrigue.    In talking with former Saints, and current Broncos, head coach Sean Payton, Wickersham shares a rating system for college quarterbacks available for draft purposes.    The lower the score the more likely they will have success at the next level.    One quarterback had a uniquely and surprisingly low score.   That was the player that Payton selected in the first round of the 2024 draft.    After a season and half to date, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, a player not heavily featured in this collection of biographies, has worked out for Payton and the franchise perhaps giving credence to a lesser-known QB rating system.   

Another noteworthy point of observation was the frequent pensive and melancholy tone of the impact that being a famous and successful quarterback had on the individual.     Elway and Young both seem to express near remorse that the feelings and sensation experienced during their glory days on the grid were slowly fading.   Elway in particular has endured a harder life with lost relationships and loved ones.    Wickersham seems to hint at the notion that life was good but yet unfulfilled as it seems many former gridiron kings were still looking for something to fill that void in their lives.  

Although the book is lengthy and heavily segmented there is something to this novel.   Wickersham, author of It’s Better to be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty has a direct, easy writing style that is easy to take in from one section to another.    It was noted that this book has already reached the New York Times non-fiction best seller list shortly after its book release.    It is helpful to know about and have some familiarity of what the quarterback does during the game, but sports background is not necessary to read about their emotions, the pensive, wistful thoughts about their experiences and how the position shapes and consumes their lives.     The quote on the cover of the books suggests this is an instant classic and we find no objection to that assertion.   This book is a biography of revered, and possibly tormented, individuals but as the saying goes it is good to be king and the author honors one of the greatest and most coveted roles in the world.      

 

You might like to read this book if you like to read about both old and new quarterbacks.

You might like to read this book if you seek stories about both NFL and college football players.

You might like to read this book if you covet history of the NFL and specific individual football players.

You might like to read this book if you simply enjoy reading books about the game of football. 

 

Read more about the author on X:   https://x.com/SethWickersham