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America's Quarterback: Bart Starr and the Rise of the National Football League
A powerful biography of one of the greatest football players of all time, in the spirit of Johnny U and Namath
No one can touch Bart Starr's record setting 5 NFL Championships including 3 straight. America's Quarterback tells the story of the man who helped create the legend of Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers. Set against the changing landscape of the last half of the 20th century, this biography traces Starr’s life from childhood in Alabama to stardom in Green Bay and beyond. Not a simple sports story, Dunnavant traces the story of one man reaching for the American dream while professional football emerged from the shadows to capture the nation’s imagination. It’s a story of the tension between a coach and a player as different as fire and ice, and how they came to trust and revere each other. It’s a story of triumph tempered by tragedy, and the world-class athlete who quietly, persistently, achieved a level of greatness unsurpassed by any quarterback since. A remarkable blend of personal memory and historical narrative, America’s Quarterback is a tribute to an American hero and the perfect companion to the classic When Pride Still Mattered.
No one can touch Bart Starr's record setting 5 NFL Championships including 3 straight. America's Quarterback tells the story of the man who helped create the legend of Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers. Set against the changing landscape of the last half of the 20th century, this biography traces Starr’s life from childhood in Alabama to stardom in Green Bay and beyond. Not a simple sports story, Dunnavant traces the story of one man reaching for the American dream while professional football emerged from the shadows to capture the nation’s imagination. It’s a story of the tension between a coach and a player as different as fire and ice, and how they came to trust and revere each other. It’s a story of triumph tempered by tragedy, and the world-class athlete who quietly, persistently, achieved a level of greatness unsurpassed by any quarterback since. A remarkable blend of personal memory and historical narrative, America’s Quarterback is a tribute to an American hero and the perfect companion to the classic When Pride Still Mattered.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2011
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151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 28, 2012
Most sports fans, particularly of the NFL variety, are going to be fairly biased about bios or books relating to their team. Certainly having grown up with Green Bay Packers and still remembering those black and white images on TV of Vince Lombardi stalking the sideline in 1963 I am no different. This book does a great job telling that story centered around this iconic figure Bart Starr. It was interesting in doing a search to enter this book into my library here a title came up, "Johnny Unitas, America's Quarterback." So the debate will never end. The thing this book brings out about Starr is despite the repeated second tier ranking many give him over the years, when you look at his performance year in and year out he really was always at or near the top, backed up by 5 Championships. But what cannot always be captured by titles and statistics is the character of the man and the leadership qualities. Something we don't see as much in today's sports arena, yet this man had in spades.
October 2, 2023
My boyhood idol - watching the GBP's during their run through the 60's was awe inspiring - and I'm from Chicago with a Bear's fan Dad. Bart was the epitome of growing up in modest means, learning from family & community the duties of citizenship, honor & integrity and a never give-up attitude against any & all odds. It's an America that's erroded over the years and sadly now is in jeopardy but I suppose it's just history taking place in real time and those of us who remember different times being nostalgic for what we 'think' was ....
August 20, 2023
You don’t really expect a book about a person who had largely exited the public eye 10 years before you were born to make you emotional. But this book really made me feel happiness, joy, and laughter in stories about a man who got the most part was simply “an old, legendary quarterback” for most of my life
August 20, 2020
Read this book when it first came out. Growing up in Southern California during the sixties I was and still am a die-hard Packers fan. As a kid I had everything I could get my hands on to that was Green Bay Packers which really was not that much except for a poster of them and a book about Bart Starr. My father would buy tickets for the Rams game when the Packers came to the West Coast so I was able to see them a few times which I always enjoyed, but really as a kid then throughout the downtime of the time I always felt that Starr never got his fair credit as the starting quarterback for a team that won five championships the first two Super Bowls and still the only quarterback to have won three straight championships.
Here in this book, you get a look at his life from childhood through his time at Alabama and to being drafted by the Packers in the 17th round. Then him being behind different quarterbacks until Lombardi got they’re and the day that he stood up to him at practice. You little tidbits here and their especially his conversation on the sideline with Lombardi before the sneak that won the game against the Cowboys. I really enjoyed this book and I don’t believe you need to be a Packer fan to enjoy it either.
Here in this book, you get a look at his life from childhood through his time at Alabama and to being drafted by the Packers in the 17th round. Then him being behind different quarterbacks until Lombardi got they’re and the day that he stood up to him at practice. You little tidbits here and their especially his conversation on the sideline with Lombardi before the sneak that won the game against the Cowboys. I really enjoyed this book and I don’t believe you need to be a Packer fan to enjoy it either.
July 20, 2020
Growing up in NE Wisconsin it was impossible not to hear the stories of Lombardi's legendary teams in the '60s so of course I was familiar with Bart Starr. However, this book does a FANTASTIC job of sharing who Bart was beyond the stats and victories. Bart was my grandfather's favorite player, and after reading this book I have a much better idea of why that was. The character, discipline, and perseverance be displayed were attributes that made him a role model for all. Reading this book was like having a conversation with my Gramps, I wish it could have lasted longer.
November 24, 2011
Even though I was not a Packers fan during his era, it would be hard to write a book about Starr, the Packers and their championships in the 1960s that I would not like. There is not much new here, but this is a book that needed to be written as a big part of NFL history. And who doesn't like a story about a quarterback who didn't get off the bench his senior year at Alabama and who became the best in history?
June 14, 2024
Biased as a bona fide Packer and Starr fan from the Lombardi years, this is an easy read. Much like reclining in a comfy chair and a hot beverage on a cool night, enjoying the nighttime sounds while poring over the pages of my childhood idol.
This is a worthy companion to David Maraniss’ When Pride Mattered, which I heartily recommend. Starr was the leader of the great Packers’ teams of the ‘60s, a concerned and active humanitarian, and a committed romantic to his childhood sweetheart.
This is a worthy companion to David Maraniss’ When Pride Mattered, which I heartily recommend. Starr was the leader of the great Packers’ teams of the ‘60s, a concerned and active humanitarian, and a committed romantic to his childhood sweetheart.
September 10, 2019
When I was a 9-year-old in northern Minnesota, I wrote a letter to Bart Starr asking for his autograph. Because I was young, ignorant and didn't understand the depth of rivalries at that time, I wrote that my favorite team was the Vikings, but he was my favorite player. Several months later, I received a self-addressed, stamped envelope in my scrawl that contained a thank you note and an autographed 5x7 card from Starr.
Nowadays with the way the NFL has gone, had I done that, I'd probably have gotten a letter from the player's attorney issuing a cease and desist order.
That letter and card showed what class Starr had. I still have the autograph and the memory of it is so much more worthy than whatever going rate for autographs and memorabilia are going for.
Keith Dunnavant has written a well-researched book offering his opinion that Starr is the greatest quarterback of all time. He does a fantastic job of capturing the feel of the NFL in the 1960s and the birthing of the television-natured, crazed fan that the sport is today. Starr is humble, but aware that he was constantly compared, unfairly, to Johnny Unitas and later in contrast to Joe Namath. It was an era of the run rather than than the pass back then. Starr was criticized by his opponents of his greatness, saying all he had to do was "handoff to Hornung." But he aired it out as well, tossing 152 touchdowns and nearly 25,000 yards in his career.
There were a few editing issues, including one where the score of a game was improbable. I don't have the book with me, but it was something like the Packers were leading 10-7 at half and won 14-7. (Not the exact example, but the point was the Pack didn't score 4 points in a second half.)
That aside, there are a lot of neat anecdotes and history tidbits of the NFL. Also, Dunnavant shows Starr's wife, Cherry, to be a super neat person who is devoted to her husband. He writes of her attending the Ice Bowl of 1967, sitting in the stands with other fans, long before the days of sports boxes and separation of fans by elitism and money.
I'm now reading Mark Ribowsky's book on Miami coach Don Shula; the two books are intertwined during Shula's days with the Baltimore Colts. It's interesting to read both sides of that rivalry between the two teams in the early 1960s.
Dunnvant does do flag-waving for Starr throughout the book, often gushing over his accomplishments and using the words "historical" and "greatest" a lot. But it is deserved. Stats show Starr is the greatest playoff quarterback of all time, bettering Tom Brady in playoff win percentage by a margin of .900 to .750. His passer rating of 104.8 in the playoffs eclipses Joe Montana's 95.6 rating.
I don't know why I had not read Dunnavant until now, but I'm glad I did.
Nowadays with the way the NFL has gone, had I done that, I'd probably have gotten a letter from the player's attorney issuing a cease and desist order.
That letter and card showed what class Starr had. I still have the autograph and the memory of it is so much more worthy than whatever going rate for autographs and memorabilia are going for.
Keith Dunnavant has written a well-researched book offering his opinion that Starr is the greatest quarterback of all time. He does a fantastic job of capturing the feel of the NFL in the 1960s and the birthing of the television-natured, crazed fan that the sport is today. Starr is humble, but aware that he was constantly compared, unfairly, to Johnny Unitas and later in contrast to Joe Namath. It was an era of the run rather than than the pass back then. Starr was criticized by his opponents of his greatness, saying all he had to do was "handoff to Hornung." But he aired it out as well, tossing 152 touchdowns and nearly 25,000 yards in his career.
There were a few editing issues, including one where the score of a game was improbable. I don't have the book with me, but it was something like the Packers were leading 10-7 at half and won 14-7. (Not the exact example, but the point was the Pack didn't score 4 points in a second half.)
That aside, there are a lot of neat anecdotes and history tidbits of the NFL. Also, Dunnavant shows Starr's wife, Cherry, to be a super neat person who is devoted to her husband. He writes of her attending the Ice Bowl of 1967, sitting in the stands with other fans, long before the days of sports boxes and separation of fans by elitism and money.
I'm now reading Mark Ribowsky's book on Miami coach Don Shula; the two books are intertwined during Shula's days with the Baltimore Colts. It's interesting to read both sides of that rivalry between the two teams in the early 1960s.
Dunnvant does do flag-waving for Starr throughout the book, often gushing over his accomplishments and using the words "historical" and "greatest" a lot. But it is deserved. Stats show Starr is the greatest playoff quarterback of all time, bettering Tom Brady in playoff win percentage by a margin of .900 to .750. His passer rating of 104.8 in the playoffs eclipses Joe Montana's 95.6 rating.
I don't know why I had not read Dunnavant until now, but I'm glad I did.
October 5, 2025
I gave this book an extra star because I'm a big fan of Bart Starr. Otherwise, it would have ended up with only two. The book looked at his life with extremely rose-colored glasses. I don't think Keith said anything negative about him. I'm sorry but nobody is that perfect. Even though I really liked the guy, he still had a few warts. Where were those? Also, there was a ton of stuff that didn't to be covered. I mean I really don't need to hear about a conversation he had in an elevator. Keith to TMI to a whole new height.
What worked for me:
1) Of course, I loved the subject matter. As I said, I a big fan.
2) I got to see more of his life than just what happened on the field.
What didn't work for me:
1) Worthless detail cluttering up the book. I don't need to hear about a phone conversation he had with a casual acquaintance. Did I really need to know what Cherry wore to the Ice Bowl? It felt like Keith was going for word count, especially at the end.
2) I WANT the negatives! Bart's isn't a god. I don't need to worship at his feet.
3) The last 25% covered his life after football in excruciating detail. I should have stopped while I was ahead.
The Verdict: The whole booked dragged, especially at the end. It would take a diehard fan to hang in there to get through book. Unfortunately, my middle name is "Diehard". I think if Keith dropped almost all of the end and heavily edited the rest it would have made for a good book. It will take an extraordinary fan to want to go through this pain. There are better autobiography's out there. Look for them.
Note on audiobook: There were many short gaps. They may have been only for a sentence or two, but far too many of them. What is this, Watergate?
What worked for me:
1) Of course, I loved the subject matter. As I said, I a big fan.
2) I got to see more of his life than just what happened on the field.
What didn't work for me:
1) Worthless detail cluttering up the book. I don't need to hear about a phone conversation he had with a casual acquaintance. Did I really need to know what Cherry wore to the Ice Bowl? It felt like Keith was going for word count, especially at the end.
2) I WANT the negatives! Bart's isn't a god. I don't need to worship at his feet.
3) The last 25% covered his life after football in excruciating detail. I should have stopped while I was ahead.
The Verdict: The whole booked dragged, especially at the end. It would take a diehard fan to hang in there to get through book. Unfortunately, my middle name is "Diehard". I think if Keith dropped almost all of the end and heavily edited the rest it would have made for a good book. It will take an extraordinary fan to want to go through this pain. There are better autobiography's out there. Look for them.
Note on audiobook: There were many short gaps. They may have been only for a sentence or two, but far too many of them. What is this, Watergate?
December 8, 2016
This is the book of Bart Starr and his rise in the NFL. 1940s Bart was a high school QB looking for a team to play for he then got drafted to Alabama and played as a starter nearly making the playoffs every year in 1950s-1960s Bart Starr got drafted to the Green Bay Packers and backed up curry lambeu then in the 60s started as QB with Vince Lombardi and took the Packers to 5 championships and 2 Super bowls.
August 7, 2012
Author makes an interesting case for Starr being the greatest QB in NFL history (although I disagree).
July 20, 2020
As a Green Bay Packers fan, this book immediately and obviously appealed to me. In reality, this book is for anyone who enjoys professional football.
While the book clearly focuses on the career of Bart Starr, and his legacy with the Green Bay Packers, the author uses his career as a vehicle to tell the story of the NFL, and how it grew from an afterthought in the American Public’s consciousness as Bart entered the league, to the most enjoyed sport in the country, with Bart Starr as the poster boy for the first years of glory.
Bart was a truly remarkable man both on- and off-the-field. Knowing the story of how he handled a less than perfect upbringing, and many trials throughout his early years as a quarterback, channeling them into an unparalleled level of success while remaining humble is a lesson even non-football fans can appreciate.
While the book clearly focuses on the career of Bart Starr, and his legacy with the Green Bay Packers, the author uses his career as a vehicle to tell the story of the NFL, and how it grew from an afterthought in the American Public’s consciousness as Bart entered the league, to the most enjoyed sport in the country, with Bart Starr as the poster boy for the first years of glory.
Bart was a truly remarkable man both on- and off-the-field. Knowing the story of how he handled a less than perfect upbringing, and many trials throughout his early years as a quarterback, channeling them into an unparalleled level of success while remaining humble is a lesson even non-football fans can appreciate.
March 7, 2024
As Dunnavant says at the end of the book, the smallest act shows ones character. That is what who Bart Starr was. This biography is up there with Instant Replay as well as among the great books of sports. In an age where quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, are considered the greatest of all time. All of them, and fans as well, should look to Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr and his play as well as his character. They should learn what humble means, what desire means, what kindness means, and what class means as well. Bart Starr is no longer with us, his wife Cherry is no longer with us; but their legacy in making the Packers the winningest NFL team in history as well as their charity and love will forever remain. Check this book out to learn about what character means.
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April 4, 2022I am a 15 year old student who is currently reading this book for my class. My personals thoughts on this book are good, this book is very interesting to me because I am a football fan. I would recommend this book for people my age that are interested in reading about the history of football. This book is about the great quarterback Bart Starr and his journey to become famous. The main character is Bart Starr. This book is interesting to me because I like the game of football and the history behind it. Anyone who loves the game of football will enjoy this book.
August 2, 2022
It was my good fortune to grow up in Wisconsin during the Packer glory years, idolizing Bart Starr. He's still my all-time favorite NFL player. That's the reason I gave this book four stars. But from a strictly critical viewpoint, I would have given it three stars. In addition to containing some rather glaring errors, the book is over-written, and includes too many sidelights and episodes that really don't go anywhere. Starr was an admirable man and a great quarterback, and this book recounts his many achievements. It would be a better book if it were less fawning and more subtle.
March 8, 2020
An old school approach to biography with some history of the NFL thrown in as an interesting bonus. Dunnavant makes a good case for why Starr is the best quarterback in the history of the league. I couldn't agree more!
September 4, 2018
The content is 4-star. The problem is that the editing was poor to the point of distracting.
September 21, 2020
I knew Bart Starr as the quarterback of the Packers
but from this book I learn of Bart Starr the person.
but from this book I learn of Bart Starr the person.
February 18, 2024
This was a very well written book about a man that I've known about for most of my life. It's given me a greater appreciation for Bart Starr, who seemed like the definition of a good guy.
November 3, 2025
Not just for fans of the Packers.
July 27, 2016
Wow. My dad grew up in farm country Iowa watching Bart Starr and Lombardi's Packers win 5 NFL Championships and 2 Superbowls. He has always spoken of Starr with admiration and affectionate nostalgia. His favorite Christmas present one year was a #15 jersey. I became aware of Bart Starr as a teen, already a Packer fan thanks to my dad and Brett Favre, but it wasn't until I had graduated college and moved to Birmingham that I began to know just how much of an impact he had on professional football, that he had played for Alabama, and what an incredibly giving and humble person he is, evident by the grace he has shown to countless people across Birmingham, Green Bay, and the entire country. This book captures all of that...Starr's incredible career and his life and impact on so many. It also continually puts Starr's life in context of the NFL's history and what was going on in US history and culture. I loved reading this and it has certainly forever endeared Bart Starr and his family/life/story/career to me. Roll Tide and Go Pack Go!!
February 9, 2016
Very good read, with good background on the life of Bart Starr. Although I am too young to have seen him play, I've always been a fan of Starr the person and Starr the player.
This book gives much insight into his character and beliefs, as well as covering much of the history of Vince Lombardi's Packers of the 1960's. Dunnavant does well to tie much of the political and social turmoil of the times into the fabric of the football narrative.
This book gives much insight into his character and beliefs, as well as covering much of the history of Vince Lombardi's Packers of the 1960's. Dunnavant does well to tie much of the political and social turmoil of the times into the fabric of the football narrative.
February 11, 2012
Parts were dry.... but it was great to read about an athlete that took the idea of being a role model to youth, his profession, the NFL, etc. seriously. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the Packers and is interested in learning about what makes a 17th round draft pick quarterback that won 5 NFL championships including two superbowls tick.
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January 22, 2012Not quite as good as the biography of Lombardi from a few years back. Of course the fact that I compared the two books does back up Dunnavant point that the two men were extensions of each other.
I dont want a tell all, but it was a little to laudatory for my taste. Still, I did love Bart Starr as a kid, so I enjoyed it.
I dont want a tell all, but it was a little to laudatory for my taste. Still, I did love Bart Starr as a kid, so I enjoyed it.
November 3, 2012
Very easy read; interesting mix of Bart Starr/Green Bay Packers history, mixed in with the changes goign on in society over this career. I knew very little about Bart Starr before I read this but came away impressed that he is a great guy. I would definitely read more of Keith Dunnavant's work.
October 14, 2013
Very good book in which the author demonstrates why he feels Bart Starr is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Additionally gives a history of the league, and the Green Bay Packers.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews