The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire

Compelling read on the history of football. I appreciate the detail on the lives and motivation of these early leaders as they helped to create what we enjoy today. They were imperfect, as us the modern product, but I had feelings as the author describedtheir inevitable demise. They believed in their product, sometimes against all odds

Very interesting book. If you are an NFL fan, you must read this.

Well written history of the beginnings of the NFL. The Rooney's and the Mara families still own their original franchises.

An informative history of how pro football succeeded.

This important time before the Greatest Game Ever (Colts-Giants 1957 overtime game) provides insights as to the reasons and actions of the five key men who birthed and carried the League to the sports mountain. Very interesting new information about the wheeling and dealing and decision making by the five. Key decisions actions and the struggle of the five key franchises are very interesting. A must read for NFL fans and and sports person interested in a great sports story.

Enjoyable read. Goes through the founding fathers of the NFL, notably George Halas, and how they built a struggling, losing enterprise into one of America’s best and most profitable inventions. Early on, pro football took back seat to college, had little to no credibility, and owners lost money year after year. Innovations like the draft, radio and television deals, responding to challenges from rival leagues (and sports - namely baseball), overcoming segregation and so forth; the NFL has a very colorful past most of us weren’t aware of.

I generally love reading about the roots of all things. This one is repetetive, a real slog. The subject matter, the main characters, could be fascinating in the right hands. This book feels rushed. Written in bursts, then theown together.

A fascinating story, well told, about the early years of the National Football League and the many obstacles the owners had to overcome to make the League the success that it is today. It would be helpful if the current Commissioner would read it and realize the legacy he has been given to protect and enhance. It would also be helpful if the current billionaire owners would read it and appreciate what it took to let them have what they have today.