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Invincible: My Journey from Fan to NFL Team Captain
The true story of the NFL's oldest rookie In 1976, Vince Papale was thirty, a former schoolteacher and part-time bartender, and a season ticket-holder for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles. When he heard that Coach Dick Vermeil was holding open tryouts, he decided to give it a shot. Shocking himself and the coaches, he ran an explosive 40-yard-dash in just 4.5 seconds--a world-class time--and was offered a contract on the spot. When he joined the team, Papale became the oldest non-kicking rookie in NFL history, a fan favorite who played for four years and was named a team captain. Invincible is Vince Papale's story, and a tie-in to the Disney Pictures film of the same name starring Mark Wahlberg as Papale and Greg Kinnear as Vermeil. But more than just a tie-in, it tells Papale's story in his own words, covering subjects not included in the film. Like Rudy, Glory Road, and Rookie, it is the true story of an ordinary man who achieves an extraordinary goal.
256 pages, ebook
First published August 8, 2006
8 people want to read
About the author
Vince Papale
7 books2 followersVincent Francis Papale is a former professional American football player. He played three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League following two seasons with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League. Papale was the inspiration for the 2006 movie Invincible.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 10, 2024
A heartfelt memoir of a most unlikely NFL player in the 1970's.
Vince Papale is well known in the Delaware Valley, but most fans have forgotten this story.
If you watch the Hollywood film "Invincible" (starring Mark Wahlberg), you will see the story, but like anything Hollywood, they skip many of the details of the authors climb and struggle.
This is an inspiring tale of a blue collar kid from the projects who had a really good work ethic and who could run, very, very fast.
He worked up an invitation to the Philadelphia Eagles training camp, and just made the team because the rookie head coach Dick Vermeil said that he set the tone for the team through his outstanding attitude and example.
Right around the time Vince broke in with the Eagles, something else was happening in Philadelphia (and around the world). The movie "Rocky" broke through as a blockbuster film that came out of nowhere. Indeed movie goers just can't let go of that still running film series (Rocky/Creed).
It is a movie of a good hearted , driven athlete - trying to break through to the top of his sport.
A classic underdog story, based in Philly. Sound familiar?
People connected Vince with Rocky, only Vince was real life-from their town.
Papale never let his coach down, and hung in the NFL for 3 years, retiring at age 33 after a serious shoulder injury. The next season the Eagles would make their first ever Super Bowl, but without Vince. Coach Vermeil still gave credit to Vince for helping to establish the winning culture in the locker room that he knew that he essential for turning the long tired franchise around.
So what happened after his storybook NFL ride ended.
Update: On June 17th, 2024 the Philadelphia Inquier published an update entitled "Vince Papale's real 'Invincible' story began with the Philadelphia Bell". You can look it up.
Vince Papale is well known in the Delaware Valley, but most fans have forgotten this story.
If you watch the Hollywood film "Invincible" (starring Mark Wahlberg), you will see the story, but like anything Hollywood, they skip many of the details of the authors climb and struggle.
This is an inspiring tale of a blue collar kid from the projects who had a really good work ethic and who could run, very, very fast.
He worked up an invitation to the Philadelphia Eagles training camp, and just made the team because the rookie head coach Dick Vermeil said that he set the tone for the team through his outstanding attitude and example.
Right around the time Vince broke in with the Eagles, something else was happening in Philadelphia (and around the world). The movie "Rocky" broke through as a blockbuster film that came out of nowhere. Indeed movie goers just can't let go of that still running film series (Rocky/Creed).
It is a movie of a good hearted , driven athlete - trying to break through to the top of his sport.
A classic underdog story, based in Philly. Sound familiar?
People connected Vince with Rocky, only Vince was real life-from their town.
Papale never let his coach down, and hung in the NFL for 3 years, retiring at age 33 after a serious shoulder injury. The next season the Eagles would make their first ever Super Bowl, but without Vince. Coach Vermeil still gave credit to Vince for helping to establish the winning culture in the locker room that he knew that he essential for turning the long tired franchise around.
So what happened after his storybook NFL ride ended.
Update: On June 17th, 2024 the Philadelphia Inquier published an update entitled "Vince Papale's real 'Invincible' story began with the Philadelphia Bell". You can look it up.
Displaying 1 of 1 review