Introduction 1

Part1: Getting Started with Football 5

Chapter 1: America’s Greatest Game 7

Chapter 2: Meet Me on the Gridiron 17

Chapter 3: Them’s the Rules (And Regulations) 33


Part2: Go, Offense! 61

Chapter 4: The Quarterback, Football’s MVP 63

Chapter 5: The Passing Game 79

Chapter 6: Hitting the Ground Running 93

Chapter 7: The Offensive Line at Work in the Trenches 117

Chapter 8: Offensive Plays and Strategies 131


Part3: The Big D 159

Chapter 9: These Guys Are Huge: The Defensive Line and Linebackers 161

Chapter 10: The Secondary: Last Line of Defense 177

Chapter 11: Defensive Tactics and Strategies 193


Part4: Meet the Rest of the Team 211

Chapter 12: Special Teams, Masters of the Kicking Game 213

Chapter 13: Coaches, General Managers, and Other Important Folks 235


Part5: Football for Everyone 249

Chapter 14: Armchair Quarterbacks and Other Fabulous Fans 251

Chapter 15: Youth Leagues and High School Football 261

Chapter 16: College Football: Where It All Started 273

Chapter 17: Taking a Look at the NFL (And Other Professional Leagues) 289

Chapter 18: Playing Fantasy Football 307


Part6: The Part of Tens 317

Chapter 19: The Ten (Or So) Greatest Defensive Players of All Time 319

Chapter 20: More Than Ten Top Non-Quarterback Offensive Players 333

Chapter 21: More Than Ten Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time 343

Chapter 22: More Than Ten Greatest Coaches in the History of the Game 351

Appendix: Football Speak 361

Index 373