Football Done Right

Setting the Record Straight on the Coaches, Players, and History of the NFL

By: Michael Lombardi

Narrated by: Dan Woren, Michael Lombardi, Jim Nantz

Former NFL general manager and three-time Super Bowl winner Michael Lombardi takes readers on the ultimate journey through the NFL's history to present his calls on the greatest players and coaches the sport has ever seen.

From Monday Night Football to Super Bowl Sunday, the NFL is a dominating force in the lives of millions of fans who tune in and passionately cheer for their favorite teams. And when the games are over, the conversation is just getting started. Who's the greatest player of all time? Which coaches truly shaped the game we known and love today? What was the most unforgettable game? Why is professional football such an undeniable part of our culture?

Three-time Super Bowl winner Michael Lombardi has done it all—from scout to executive to coach—and now he sets the record straight on these questions and more. With Football Done Right, Lombardi tackles all aspects of the sport, discussing the best of the best. He channels his 35+ years of experience with the NFL into an all-encompassing celebration of the game. More than just ranking the giants of the league, Lombardi shows how and why each affected the game. Mixing first-person, in-the-locker-room experience with little known history and hard stats, Lombardi makes a definitive case for the most influential coaches and the best players, and also offers an insider look to how drafts and trades operate behind the scenes and honoring the sportscasters who played an essential role in popularizing the sport. Both a full history of the sport and a comprehensive re-imagining of the Football Hall of Fame to honor every deserving athlete and coach, Football Done Right will change the way you watch, discuss, and debate the gridiron.

Critic reviews

“A master class in the history, philosophy, and art of football from a man who has seen it all.” —Bill Belichick, Head Coach of the New England Patriots

“The stories in Football Done Right reveal who made the NFL into the greatest league on Earth. Michael Lombardi has had success at every level of the league and this love letter to the game is a must read.” —Pat McAfee, Host of The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN and Former NFL Player

“For the past 40 years, Michael Lombardi has had a front row seat to football history, working for and advising legendary men such as Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belichick. Now he has packaged all the greatness he observed into this gift of a book.”
—Adam Schefter, ESPN Senior NFL Insider

The Full Story

In delivering his personal depiction of the most important people to grace the gridiron of NFL history, Michael Lombardi has given us a well rounded, thorough, insightful and completely enjoyable journey into NFL history.
The knowledge presented in this book will improve anyones understanding of the NFL. For those more familiar with the NFL, Michael’s story will illuminate much of the behind the scenes workings as well as the thinking of those that attempt to build teams for a living.
His “ 100 Player List” is not for the fantasy football fan. It is however, for the true fan of the NFL. Many of the attributes that Michael highlights would go unseen without someone like him to illuminate them for us.
In simple terms, this is a great book, told by a man who lived his dream and wants to share some parts of it with us all

Great complement to Gridiron Genius

Must read for any sports fan! Especially if you want to understand the nuances of football.

Makes football come alive

This book was great. It makes football come alive in a whole new way. I love the history and nostalgia.

Very thorough!

This was a great, well researches thorough book. The attention to detail was great! But no way should John Elway be 45. Top 25 for sure!

Not What I Expected.

I love Lombardi’s podcast, and I love his insight. This book, unlike Gridiron Genius, is a history of football players. I was hoping for more about tactics and strategy. It’s like reading NFL Network’s Top 100. Fun, but nothing new to a football fan.