Embark on the monumental saga of the five visionaries who guided the NFL through its tumultuous early years, forging it into the most beloved sport in America.
While the National Football League now stands as a towering, quintessentially American juggernaut generating $14 billion in annual revenue, its journey to success was far from guaranteed. In “The League,” John Eisenberg sheds light on the trailblazing sportsmen who navigated the challenges of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, an era dominated by college football, baseball, boxing, and horseracing.
The focus narrows in on the pivotal figures of Art Rooney, George Halas, Tim Mara, George Preston Marshall, and Bert Bell. During a time when belief in professional football was scarce, these individuals demonstrated unwavering faith in the sport, ensuring its survival when its future hung in the balance. Their success was not instant, as each of them, at crucial junctures, willingly sacrificed the immediate prosperity of their respective teams for the greater, long-term good of the league. “The League” unfolds as both a history of a sport and a compelling narrative of business acumen, providing an indispensable read for any enthusiast of America’s true national pastime.