Warrior Judge: One Man's Journey from Gridiron to Gavel

by Ed Newman, Holly Newman Greenberg

You can hear bodies collide and feel tendons pop as four-time All-Pro guard Ed Newman takes you inside one of the world's most unforgiving workplaces--the NFL. Brainy, candid, vivid, and visceral, Newman's Warrior Judge highlights his transformation from a hapless Miami Dolphins rookie into an elite player and then, by way of a law degree, an elected judge in South Florida.



From humble beginnings as a Jewish kid in Long Island, Newman is drafted by Don Shula and his "perfect season" 1972 Miami Dolphins. He overcomes culture shock, alpha-dog hazing, coaches' doubts, cancer, injury, and antisemitism. Newman ultimately earns a starring role alongside future Hall of Famers, like Dan Marino, Larry Little, and Dwight Stephenson. Hovering over this constellation of talent is Coach Shula, always a relentless critic and sometimes a mentor and father figure. Newman's story climaxes when he juggles law school final exams with Super Bowl XIX. Warrior Judge is as inspiring as it is lively and surprising; it's a tale of adversity vanquished by against-all-odds determination.







Newman was a passing quarterback's dream. He tells it how it went down from his unique perspective.



--Dan Marino, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback







Warrior Judge is an interesting read of what it's like to be an offensive lineman in the NFL.



--Larry Little, NFL Hall of Fame offensive guard







Lively, often irreverent, and most of all authentic, there aren't any NFL books like this.



--Michael Ennis, New York Times bestselling author







After reading his thought-provoking book, all I can say is, A big hit is coming your way.



--Kim Bokamper, Pro Bowl Miami Dolphin and TV personality







Warrior Judge is a beautiful tribute to the good old Dolphin days. It lovingly remembers the players of the 1972 "perfect season."



--Dick Anderson, two-time Super Bowl Champion

262 pages, Paperback

Published December 13, 2023

Reviews

[Jeffrey Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by Judge Ed Newman and his daughter Holly Newman Greenberg. He went to Syosset High School on Long Island where he was a Nassau County wrestling champion and a great football player. He then went to Duke where he was an All-American football player and an ACC Wrestling Champion. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins who had just won the Super Bowl and gone undefeated (the only team to ever do it). He played on the Super Bowl winning team the next year and was an All-Pro four times. Near the end of his career he started going to law school at night. Retired from football and then practiced law for a while and then ran for and was elected a Judge. He worked on domestic violence cases as the woman in charge thought it would be good to have a former Miam Dolphin be visible on the issue. He recently retired after a distinguished career.

This book tells the story of an amazing life. First of all to have been an All-American caliber athlete in two sports is virtually unheard of. And then to go to law school the same year you are playing professional football and have your exam rescheduled because of the Super Bowl? And while you are raising a family with two young children? It's really astonishing.

The story is told in a very conversational style. The struggles of establishing yourself in the NFL, playing a physically brutal sport trying to break through when your competition are among the greatest to ever play the position, is a compelling story.

If you are football fan or just a sports fan or just like to read the stories of highly accomplished people who excel in multiple, unrelated worlds, and do it while maintaining a strong ethical center, this book is for you.