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 listeners 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.

©2023 Michael Lombardi (P)2023 Running Press Adult

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

Great complement to Gridiron Genius

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

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

Beware Lombardi does not narrate (still a great read / listen)

I am a massive massive fan of Mike Lombardi, and his first book Gridiron Genius is incredible! I was super excited to download and listen to this book, but was quickly upset to realize that Lombardi only narrates the forward in the very beginning, and does not narrate the book itself. That said as somebody who listens to many of Lombardi‘s podcasts, I found myself losing interest throughout as hearing another person read for Lombardi made me feel like it wasn’t Lombardi’s POV (perhaps this might be a better read?).

The content itself was fantastic, had merit and felt well rooted in Lombardi‘s football culture, knowledge, history, so I would still recommend reading the actual book or listening to the audio version, just knowing that someone else is speaking his words.

The in-depth knowledge and experience

Loved every bit of it. I drive for a living and have listened to both of Mr, Lombardi’s books, a half a dozen times each.

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!

Makes football come alive

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

Great overview on history. Not the best top 100 list.

I love Michael Lombardi, and his podcast, GM shuffle. However, the top 100 list looks flawed. He lists players such as Dan Marino and Brett Favre, but excludes players, such as Fran, Tarkenton, and YA Tittle. In addition, there is an exclusion of two-way players, such as Deacon Jones and Chuck Bednarik, while player is not prolifically great such as Julius Peppers and Charles Woodson are listed.

Most fans under age 40 would get their panties in a bunch about the exclusion of 21st century players such as Calvin Johnson, but the exclusion of Jones and Bednarik look puzzling, if not, unacceptable.

I’m sure that Michael is really busy and, therefore, was unable to record this audiobook. However, he should’ve been paid more to do everything. At least he could’ve pronounced Tom Brookshier’s correctly, unlike the designated narrator.

Fantastic Book!

Few people on the planet understand a game of football better than GM Michael Lombardi.

Michael takes on the almost impossible task of ranking the top 100 players of all time in order.

Michael backs his case up with stats and tells fascinating back stories from inside the front office that changed the course of football history. Anyone who reads Football Done Right will have their football IQ taken to the next level.

The only things that I wish were included were Michael reading the audiobook himself, and that Chuck, Bednarik and Brian Dawkins were included in the Top 100 list. But then again, I bleed Green and my opinion is quite bias.

Fantastic book.

Alex

Really enjoyed this book, a bunch of football knowledge. I just wish Michael narrated the whole book like he did in Gridiron Genius was pretty bummed out when I found out that it wasn’t the case. Regardless, extremely recommend!

It’s like a phd level class in NFL HISTORY.

Great well thought out and well written book. Love the insider insight. Another great book by Lombardi.