The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire

Discover the captivating story behind America's most popular sport in The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire. This deeply researched account reveals the early, uncertain decades of the National Football League, a time when its very survival was far from guaranteed.

Before becoming a $14 billion industry, professional football faced immense challenges, competing against established sports like college football, baseball, boxing, and horseracing. This book shines a light on the five pioneering owners—Art Rooney, George Halas, Tim Mara, George Preston Marshall, and Bert Bell—who believed in the potential of pro football when few others did.

Learn how these visionary leaders, through strategic sacrifices for the league's long-term good, transformed a fledgling enterprise into a national colossus. The League How offers a remarkable blend of sports history and business ingenuity, making it an essential read for understanding the origins of a true American pastime. This History & Politics narrative is a testament to their dedication and foresight.