Michael Lombardi brings substantial credibility to FOOTBALL DONE RIGHT, a delightful and thoughtful discussion of the history of the National Football League. The book features the type of conversations that often occur among football fans across America.

Lombardi is a former NFL general manager who spent more than 30 years with successful franchises in New England, San Francisco and Oakland. He worked with legends Bill Walsh, Bill Belichick and Al Davis while serving as an executive with three Super Bowl-winning teams. Retired from the NFL, he is currently an author and the host of football-themed podcasts. For those who may be wondering, he is not related to coaching icon Vince Lombardi.

"Whether you are drawn to the NFL for betting, fantasy football or just the social aspect of the game, you will want to read FOOTBALL DONE RIGHT."

In all fairness, FOOTBALL DONE RIGHT requires some familiarity with the NFL to better appreciate and enjoy it. Lombardi’s knowledge of the game is encyclopedic, and he strongly believes that to understand the current NFL, you must be aware of its past. Those who may not be as well-versed in that history may find some sections of the book challenging, but ample opportunity exists for outside research or Google checks to supplement his thoughts.

Lombardi devotes a majority of the book to his list of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time, which he divides into five sections: The Everlasting, The Excellent, The Exceptional, The Extraordinary and The Elite. I may have included some of the NFL’s founding players, like Jim Thorpe or Red Grange, but this will make for a fun, vigorous discussion among football fans.

The remaining chapters involve a myriad of subjects that readers will want to talk about and debate. Among these topics are the NFL Draft, which itself has become an event each spring; the qualities shared by successful football coaches; and how Howard Cosell, Brent Musberger and John Madden brought the NFL to television and sports prominence.

My favorite chapter in the book is the first one, “The White Oaks.” Here, Lombardi credits the work of many pioneers of professional football who saw the potential for innovation that changed the sport from a game of toughness and muscle to one exemplified by today’s emphasis on speed and quickness. He acknowledges these inventive coaches who challenged football’s original strategies and ultimately revolutionized the sport.

Whether you are drawn to the NFL for betting, fantasy football or just the social aspect of the game, you will want to read FOOTBALL DONE RIGHT. Michael Lombardi had a great role in what has become the dominant sport in America and is spreading worldwide. He has shared his experiences and observations in a wonderful and enjoyable book for football fans everywhere.