Offensive Conduct: My Life on the Line

by John Hannah, Tom Hale, Andre Tippett (Foreword)

This revealing, introspective look at an athlete’s intense drive to succeed in football also explores the adjustment to life after the final whistle. John “Hog” Hannah was a two-time All-American for the Crimson Tide under Bear Bryant. Hannah starred for the Patriots from 1973 to 1985 and was one of the most beloved New England Patriots players of all time. In his autobiography, the greatest offensive lineman in the history of the sport candidly discusses the price of dominating the trenches. Hannah also recounts his battles on the field against the Raiders and Dolphins and off the field with Patriots management. An introspective man who found religion later in life, Hannah describes the forces that shaped his drive to succeed and his addiction to control anything that threatened to separate him from perpetuating the “glory of greatness.” Reflecting on how this mind-set proved detrimental beyond his playing days—leading to the breakup of his first marriage, his estrangement from his children, and an egomaniacal approach in the business world, he shares how he ultimately found God. Offensive Conduct is both an inside look at the world of college and pro football in the 1970s and 1980s and a chronicle of the ups and downs of a driven, successful athlete.

Genres: Sports, Football

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Hannah was a superb football player, making his name as an offensive lineman. There is no doubt that he was one of the best, “Sports Illustrated” ran an article stating that he was the best. While a good deal of what he experienced is similar to what others have reported, his experiences are unique.
What is well known now in retrospect is how ruthlessly authoritarian college football coaches were. Hannah played for the University of Alabama under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. Bryant’s treatment of his players was often cruel in the physical and psychological sense. Words of praise were extremely rare; players were motivated by fear and intimidation. Such reporting was simply not done decades ago.
Hannah describes his focus on football to the general exclusion of all other things as well as how the growth of his ego sometimes overwhelmed him. Again, this is a common trait among athletes at the highest level. He also details his physical problems as the battering his body took on the gridiron had a cumulative effect. With the growing honesty about brain damage and other injuries in the NFL, Hannah’s experiences are also quite common.
As sports autobiographies go, this one is better than most. It is honest, there is little in the way of self-promotion or excuses, and he explains but does not dwell on his poor treatment by Patriots management.