53rd Man

The rousing stories of the often-overlooked players who give their blood, sweat, and tears in the hopes of seeing their dreams of playing professional football come true
Football fans may know all about the superstars of the NFL, but very few know anything at all about the players at the bottom of the rosters—the men just fighting for a spot on the team. Yet the struggles of these players represent what thousands have experienced, from the agony of being dropped to the practice squad to the elation of earning a starting job after years of toiling in anonymity. In 53rd Man: Fighting to Make It in the NFL, John Vampatella shares stories from across the league of those men whose NFL journeys have taken numerous twists and turns, all in an effort to play the game they love at the highest level. The experiences of three men in particular—Geremy Davis, Matthew Slater, and Austin Carr—reveal behind-the-scenes details of what life is really like in the NFL, working day in and day out in the shadows of the superstars. Their stories uncover the anxiety and excitement of the draft, the challenge to get through camp and make an NFL team, and what it takes to survive and thrive in the league. 53rd Man is about football, but it’s also about much more than that. It’s about what it takes to succeed, how to overcome obstacles, how to deal with disappointment, how faith can shine a light in the dark and difficult times, and how to make a difference in the lives of others along the way.
John Vampatella is the Northeast Regional Director with Athletes in Action, part of the larger mission organization Cru that works with college and professional athletes and coaches. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication and has broadcast college basketball and football on the radio. Vampatella is the author of The Immigrant, For Good Reason, and The Forgotten Game: Game 5, 2004 ALCS, Yankees at Red Sox.

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