Best Football Coaching Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: Apr 26, 2023

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Football coaching books are an essential tool for coaches of all levels looking to improve their skills and knowledge. These books provide valuable insights into the game, including strategies, tactics, and techniques for coaching athletes. They cover everything from basic fundamentals to advanced concepts, making them a great resource for both novice and experienced coaches. Whether you're coaching youth football or leading a professional team, there are football coaching books available to help you succeed. So if you're looking to take your coaching abilities to the next level, consider investing in a few of these books today.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

DTP's 2023 NFL Draft Guide: The Ultimate Draft Guide for the 2023 NFL Draft Featuring Over 300 Players Cover #TOP 1
DTP's 2023 NFL Draft Guide: The Ultimate Draft Guide for the 2023 NFL Draft Featuring Over 300 Players
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable (Sports for the Soul) Cover #TOP 2
Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable (Sports for the Soul)
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too Cover #TOP 3
Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Football Coaching Books

#TOP 1

DTP's 2023 NFL Draft Guide: The Ultimate Draft Guide for the 2023 NFL Draft Featuring Over 300 Players

Parlegreco, Daniel
Feb 4, 2023
DTP's 2023 NFL Draft Guide: The Ultimate Draft Guide for the 2023 NFL Draft Featuring Over 300 Players Cover
DTP's 2023 NFL Draft Guide: The Ultimate Draft Guide for the 2023 NFL Draft Featuring Over 300 Players

DTP's 2023 NFL Draft Guide is the ultimate guide for football fans who want to stay up to date with the latest prospects in the upcoming draft. With over 300 prospects featured and easy-to-understand terminology, this guide is perfect for both hardcore draft lovers and casual football fans. The author draws their own conclusions from watching hours of tape, providing unique insights that can't be found anywhere else. Overall, this guide is an excellent complement to watching the 2023 Draft and is a must-read for any football fan looking to stay ahead of the game.

Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable (Sports for the Soul)

Donnelly, Darrin
Shamrock New Media, Inc.
May 4, 2016
Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable (Sports for the Soul) Cover
Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable (Sports for the Soul)

Think Like a Warrior: The Five Inner Beliefs That Make You Unstoppable is an inspirational fable that reveals the five inner beliefs shared by the world's greatest achievers. Through the visits of five legendary coaches, the protagonist learns to develop a "warrior mindset" and take control of his life. This book provides valuable lessons on building self-confidence, developing mental toughness, and using a positive mental attitude to achieve more. It also teaches readers to be positive leaders for their families and teams. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.

Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too

Glazer, Jay
Jan 25, 2022
Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too Cover
Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too

Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too is a book by Jay Glazer, where he shares his personal journey of overcoming his struggles with depression and anxiety. Glazer talks directly to the readers, his teammates, and shares his truth, and how he has maintained an Unbreakable Mindset to succeed in life. He uses his own experiences to inspire readers to recognize that their own obstacles can empower them if they know how to use it. This book is a must-read for anyone facing mental health challenges and seeking motivation and inspiration to overcome them.

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

Eisenberg, John
Basic Books
Oct 1, 2019
The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire Cover
The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire

The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire by John Eisenberg is a fascinating account of the pioneering sportsmen who kept the NFL alive in its early years. The book focuses on the sacrifices made by Art Rooney, George Halas, Tim Mara, George Preston Marshall, and Bert Bell, who believed in pro football when few others did, and ultimately succeeded in building the most popular sport in America. Eisenberg's deeply researched and surprise-on-every-page book is an essential read for any fan of the NFL and a remarkable story of business ingenuity. Overall, this is a compelling history of a sport and an exemplary chapter in American capitalism and popular culture.

#TOP 5

The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership

Walsh, Bill
Jamison, Steve
Walsh, Craig
Penguin Publishing Group
Jun 29, 2010
The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership Cover
The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership

The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership by Bill Walsh is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills. Walsh, a legendary NFL coach, shares his insights on successful leadership and how it can be applied to any profession. The book also includes perspectives from Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and others. This practical and profound step-by-step tutorial on achieving success is indispensable reading for today's ultracompetitive business environment. Overall, The Score Takes Care of Itself provides a powerful road map to success as a leader and is a leadership classic that stands out from the rest.

#TOP 6

The Twin Thieves: How Great Leaders Build Great Teams

Jadin, Lucas
Jones, Steve
Jun 4, 2021
The Twin Thieves: How Great Leaders Build Great Teams Cover
The Twin Thieves: How Great Leaders Build Great Teams

The Twin Thieves: How Great Leaders Build Great Teams is a powerful story that serves as a playbook for anyone looking to help a group of people maximize their potential. The book tells the story of the Westlake Aviators football team, who realize that their greatest challenge is rising above the Twin Thieves: the Fear of Failure and the Fear of Judgment. Through a journey of adversity, celebration, and heartbreak, the Aviators come to understand that great teams are built by great leaders. This book is an excellent resource for business, sports, education, or life, and it offers valuable insights on how to build player-led teams, why accountability isn’t calling people out, but calling them up, and much more.

#TOP 7

The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama's Coach Became the Greatest Ever

Talty, John
Aug 9, 2022
The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama's Coach Became the Greatest Ever Cover
The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama's Coach Became the Greatest Ever

The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama's Coach Became the Greatest Ever is a Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller that reveals the winning strategy of Nick Saban, the greatest college football coach ever. In this book, John Talty, senior sports editor and SEC Insider for Alabama Media Group, shares Saban's leadership lessons and offers readers a blueprint for success. Through original interviews and never-before-heard anecdotes, Talty charts Saban's journey to college football's mountaintop and reveals some of the magic behind what keeps him atop it. This book is a comprehensive guide to building a winning culture and finding the right people committed to building a legacy with you.

Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs―A Memoir

Johnson, Jimmy
Hyde, Dave
Nov 15, 2022
Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs―A Memoir Cover
Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs―A Memoir

Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs―A Memoir is an intimate and insightful memoir of Hall of Fame football coach Jimmy Johnson's extraordinary life and his lessons on winning. He shares the behind-the-scenes details of his professional conflict with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his personal revelations following his mother's death and his son's struggle with addiction. The book reveals Johnson's formula for winning and his core beliefs, including how he established the ever-elusive sense of "culture." Overall, this book is a must-read for football enthusiasts and anyone who wants to learn about leadership and winning strategies.

Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life

Leach, Mike
Diversion Books
Jul 7, 2011
Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life Cover
Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life

Swing Your Sword is a captivating book that shares the story of legendary head coach Mike Leach. From his rural Wyoming upbringing to law school and ultimately to the upper echelons of the SEC, Leach's unorthodox approach to coaching is explored in detail. The book covers his successes with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, including achieving the #2 slot in national rankings and being voted 2008 Coach of the Year, as well as his controversial dismissal from the team. Overall, Swing Your Sword is a must-read for football fans and anyone interested in the unique journey of a maverick coach.

Every Moment Matters: How the World's Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams

O'Sullivan, John
Changing the Game Project
Dec 8, 2019
Every Moment Matters: How the World's Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams Cover
Every Moment Matters: How the World's Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams

Every Moment Matters is a must-read book for coaches at any level who are looking to improve their leadership skills and build high-performing teams. Author John O'Sullivan has compiled insights from top coaches, sport scientists, psychologists, and athletes to create a blueprint for success. The book emphasizes the importance of being intentional in every moment, from designing practices to inspiring players. Whether you're coaching a youth team or competing for an NCAA championship, this book provides practical tools and strategies to become the coach your athletes need. Overall, it's an inspiring and insightful read that will help coaches bring out the best in their teams.

Buying Guide Image

A Guide to Selecting the Best Football Coaching Books for Readers

Introduction

Football, or soccer as it is commonly known in the United States, is a beloved and popular sport enjoyed by people of all ages. As such, there is no shortage of coaching books available on the market. Choosing the right one for your needs can be a daunting task. In this article, we will provide some guidelines and tips to help you make an informed decision when selecting a football coaching book.

Consider your needs

Before you start browsing through coaching books, it is important to take some time to think about your specific needs and goals. Are you a beginner looking for a basic introduction to the sport? Are you an experienced coach looking to improve your team's tactics and strategies? Or are you a player looking to improve your individual skills?

Having a clear idea of what you are looking for will make it easier to narrow down your options and choose a book that is most relevant to your needs.

Read reviews

One of the best ways to get a sense of a book's quality and relevance is to read reviews from other coaches, players, and experts. These reviews can provide valuable insights and feedback on the book's content, writing style, and overall effectiveness.

You can find reviews on a book's Amazon page, on football forums, or on websites and blogs dedicated to the sport. Be sure to read a diverse range of reviews to get a well-rounded perspective.

Look for clear and concise writing

Football coaching is a complex and technical subject, and it is important that the book you choose is written in a clear and concise manner. This will make it easier to understand and apply the information and techniques presented in the book.

Look for books that use simple language and avoid jargon and technical terms, unless they are clearly explained. Also, look for books that are well-structured and organized, with clear chapter titles and summaries.

Seek out reputable authors

The author of a football coaching book is an important consideration. Look for authors who have a proven track record in the sport, whether as a coach, player, or expert. Reputable authors are more likely to have the experience and knowledge necessary to provide valuable insights and advice.

You can find information about an author's background and credentials on the book's cover or on the author's website. You can also check for online interviews or articles where the author has discussed their expertise and experience.

Choose a book that is up to date

Football is a dynamic and constantly evolving sport, and the tactics and strategies that worked well in the past may not be as effective today. It is important to choose a book that is up to date and reflects the latest developments and trends in the sport.

One way to ensure that a book is up to date is to check the publication date. A book that was published more than a few years ago may not be as relevant as a more recent publication. You can also check for online reviews and comments from other coaches and players to see if the book's information is still considered relevant and useful.

Conclusion

Choosing the right football coaching book can be a challenging task, but by considering your needs, reading reviews, looking for clear and concise writing, seeking out reputable authors, and choosing a book that is up to date, you can make an informed decision and find a book that will help you improve as a coach or player.

Editor's Notes

During our football coaching book research, we found 1,200+ football coaching book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 18,683 customer reviews through our big data system to write the football coaching books list. We found that most customers choose football coaching books with an average price of $15.03.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.