Bart Starr: America's Quarterback and the Rise of the National Football League

by Keith Dunnavant

The definitive, authorized biography of Bart Starr, quarterback for the University of Alabama and for the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s. A must-read for fans of the Crimson Tide, the Packers, and football greats.

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, Keith 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, Bart America's Quarterback and the Rise of the National Football League is a tribute to an American hero and the perfect companion to the classic When Pride Still Mattered.

Genres: Sports

384 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2012

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bart Starr is an American Icon that lives up to the hype. He is not only one of the best football players to have ever played the game, he is just a genuinely good man. Dunnavant's biography gave a depth of character to someone who is often viewed through the lens of Vince Lombardi. He was his own man, shaped by his on admission from Lombardi's coaching, but who rose above that to establish his own identity.

[Shaun Ko · Rating 1 out of 5]

The reading experience is extremely painful!! It is confusing what the author is trying to accomplish in this "one of a kind" biography. Is he trying to convery the prominent history of Green Bay Packers, NFL or Bart Starr??? On the other hand, when he zeroed in on Starr, he heaped undue praises by utilizing untenable statistics and unfair comparisons. All in all, it is a standard textbook for HOW NOT TO WRITE A BOOK!!! STUPENDOUS!!!!

[Ted Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up at the end of Starr’s career, don’t remember seeing him play. After reading this wonderful book, I have to include Starr in the same distinction with Montana & Brady as the games best QB of all time. A fabulous read.

[Ian Oxborrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. 3rd time I’ve read. Even if you’re not a fan of the Packers or Bart Starr it gives a great lesson in football history. Massively recommend

[Paul Miller]

Good read for a fan of Bama football history. Bart Starr had a very mixed career at Bama (he was there BEFORE Bear), and then became Lombardi's QB at Green Bay. The author spends an inordinate time trying to explain why Starr should be loved MORE than he is (even though he's in the HoF). I remain unconvinced - he sounds like Trent Dilfer of an earlier era - he didn't LOSE you games, but perfectly executed Lombardi's conservative game plan.

So if you "Roll Tide" OR are a fan of the 60's Packers, this is for you; otherwise, I'd pass.

[Ian Oxborrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to be an interesting true story account of one of the best but to also be informative about the history of the game. I loved it!