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.

Deep and Intriguing

this is not so much a book about the quarterback, but about the idea of myth and the archetypal hero, that quarterbacks play out every day. In that regard, it's indispensable

Outstanding

Required reading for anyone who equally loves football and marvels at all that encompasses the quarterback position.

the author's humor

I liked his candor but I think he's just a a bit too much partisan

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!

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.