American Kings

A Biography of the Quarterback

De: Seth Wickersham

Narrado por: Seth Wickersham

Pull back the curtain on the most powerful position in all of sports: the Quarterback, the American equivalent of royalty, long glamorized, mythologized and worshiped.

The New York Times best-selling author of It’s Better to be Feared examines football’s QB lifecycle: high school, college, the NFL, retirement—and all that comes with it.

Before the Super Bowl trophies, massive contracts, brand deals, and millions of social media followers comes the dream. From the backyard to Pop Warner to high school to college, becoming the ultimate American idol requires single-minded focus while navigating a maze of bad breaks, insecurities, jealousy, pressure, and fame.

Wickersham’s fresh reporting goes deep into that journey—and beyond, measuring the distance between what the men who have done it expected and what they found. Through unprecedented access into the lives of dozens of quarterbacks and generational greats such as Johnny Unitas, John Elway, Peyton Manning, Warren Moon, Steve Young, Patrick Mahomes, and others, as well as those striving to be remembered, like Caleb Williams and Arch Manning, Wickersham reveals how this one position has become emblematic of success in American life.

An inside look at the drama, demands, sacrifice and glory that comes with playing quarterback, American Kings is a must-listen not just for sports fans, but for anyone who wants to understand what the quest for achievement and status tells us about the price of ambition.

©2025 Seth Wickersham (P)2025 Audible, Inc.

Some Great Stories Here, But ...

This book has a lot of great stories about many different quarterbacks. It was great to see somewhat forgotten heroes such as Y.A. Tittle included. The stories--individually--are well told. Wickersham even does a creditable job narrating.

But as a book, there are some issues. It does not have chapters. It jumps around from one protagonist to the next. One minute he is discussing high school prodigy Collin Hurley and the next he is telling story about Tittle or some other great from years ago. It's quite a mishmash.

Another irritation is that some stories are carried through to 2025 (Hurley and Elway) and others are not. Arch Manning's story ends with high school, and no mention of his first two years at UT, where he was mostly on the bench.

It also did not help--at least for me--that the author spent quite a bit of time (mainly at the beginning) discussing his efforts to play quarterback in high school. I guess it is supposed to show why the author claims to identify with quarterbacks, but it probably should have been left elsewhere.

Very in-depth perspective from the most high profile position in sports

Great insight on the mindset and lifestyle of a quarterback. The position has evolved over the years to be bigger than life with the expectation that failure is not an option. The author provides insight from some of the greatest field generals in history and how they approach the game and life outside and after. Must read for any football fan

NFL Royalty

If your an footbal fan then this is a must read, Historical look at the preimment position in American sports. All the expected names are here with compelling stories on each. Highley recommended.

He went deep!

This the most thorough analysis of my favorite position in any sport or the most desired role of my youth ever! Seth analyzes the joy, the pain and the pressure and glory of the most important and analyzed position in sports with a thoroughness and sensitivity that is off the charts. This is one of the best books I have read in years! Thank you, Seth!

Seemed like it would be interesting…

…but better served to put a fan to sleep at night after their team lost and a heavy dose of melatonin. Wickersham voice alone is tryptophan.