Collision of Wills: Johnny Unitas, Don Shula, and the Rise of the Modern NFL

by Jack Gilden

In their seven years together, quarterback Johnny Unitas and coach Don Shula, kings of the fabled Baltimore Colts of the 1960s, created one of the most successful franchises in sports. Unitas and Shula had a higher winning percentage than Lombardi’s Packers, but together they never won the championship. Baltimore lost the big game to the Browns in 1964 and to Joe Namath and the Jets in Super Bowl III—both in stunning upsets. The Colts’ near misses in the Shula era were among the most confounding losses any sports franchise ever suffered. Rarely had a team in any league performed so well, over such an extended period, only to come up empty. 

The two men had a complex relationship stretching back to their time as young teammates competing for their professional lives. Their personal conflict mirrored their tumultuous times. As they elevated the brutal game of football, the world around them clashed about Vietnam, civil rights, and sex. Collision of Wills looks at the complicated relationship between Don Shula, the league’s winningest coach of all time, and his star player Johnny Unitas, and how their secret animosity fueled the Colts in an era when their losses were as memorable as their victories.
 

Genres: Football, Sports, History, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2018

Reviews

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny Unitas and Don Shula are two legendary figures in the history of professional football. The former is a Hall of Fame quarterback who played most of his career with the Baltimore Colts. The latter played as a defensive back for multiple teams, including the Colts where he was a teammate of Unitas. Shula became a coach when his playing days were over, leading the Colts and Miami Dolphins to titles and becoming a Hall of Fame coach.

The relationship between the two men ranged from tolerable to frosty whether they were teammates or Shula was the head coach and Unitas was his quarterback. The relationship between these two men is explored in this book by Jack Gilden. This is the best aspect of the book as Gilden uses interviews from many different people with different connections to the two men. These vary from Colts teammates to Joe Namath, the Jets quarterback who led his team to an upset victory over the Colts in Super Bowl III. The Colts were coached by Shula and Unitas played in that game in relief of starting quarterback Earl Morral.

Like many books about sports in the 1960’s, which is when most of the events took place, it mingles the sport with the culture of the time. These include the Vietnam war, the sexual revolution and the civil rights movement. There is a lot of text devoted to these subjects and while interesting; I felt that at times these took the focus away from the main subjects of Unitas and Shula.

However, when concentrating on them or on the history of the Colts, this is an excellent source of information. In addition so learning more about Unitas and Shula, a reader will learn more about the eccentric owner of the Colts at that time, Carroll Rosenbloom (who later traded the ownership of the team to Robert Irsay in exchange for ownership of the Los Angeles Rams). Weeb Ewbank, the man whom Shula replaced as head coach of the Colts, is also portrayed, and he comes across as sympathetic figure – until he coaches the Jets to the win over the Colts in the Super Bowl.

Overall, this is a very interesting and informative book on the Colts and the two legends who played an important role in making the Colts one of the best teams during the 1960’s. Their role in changing the landscape of professional football cannot be overlooked and this book informs the reader of their importance.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Gilden explores a lesser known rift between two pivotal figures from the dawn of the modern NFL in his new book, Collision of Wills.

Johnny Unitas and Don Shula were teammates with the Baltimore Colts in the mid-1950s, and then Shula became Johnny U's head coach with the same team just a few years later. Despite the success they enjoyed together, the two men were not close, and in fact were best described as antagonists, which is the tension that drives the narrative in GIlden's work.

Gilden's research is deep and broad, and he has done yeoman's work in tracking down several of the most important people from that time and place and getting them on the record. Gilden's interview subjects include (but are not limited to) Raymond Berry and Jimmy Orr (two of the Colts wide receivers), Jan Unitas (Johnny's daughter), Joe Namath (victor over the duo in the monumental upset in Super Bowl III), and even coach Don Shula himself. The thoughts of the interviewed are varied as you imagine, from fond reminiscences to the matter of fact that-was-just-a-time-in-my-life.

The strength of the book is the exploration of the relationship between Unitas and Shula, the possible causes and symptoms, and how that effected (or didn't) those around them and the rest of the NFL. Unfortunately, the book suffers from an insufficient focus, and often wanders off on long tangents. An example of this is the section about the New York Jets in the build up to the Colts clash with them in Super Bowl III. Certainly some context and background information about the Jets and their team and season is appropriate, and in fact provides depth and color to the story. But we get too much... the internecine battles of the Jets ownership group in the early years are covered thoroughly, but it's hard to say that this particular passage is relevant to the Colts generally or the Shula/Unitas relationship specifically. I often was left hoping these tangents would wrap up quickly so I could return to the story of the Colts and the main principals.

Overall, Collision of Wills is a mostly entertaining but sometimes frustrating book. I wish it were about 20% shorter, eliminating some of the extraneous information that detracts from the overall subject matter. Having said that, fans of the Colts, Shula, Unitas, or the NFL in the 1950s and '60s will find much to like.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author takes you back in time when the football was played by a different set of rules than what we are shown today. He does that while also describing what was going in our country at the time as well. Looking back I think they go hand in hand, for on Sunday’s we watched football at least I did with my father. Then during the week we watched the Vietnam war, or maybe riots going on somewhere else, or some important figure being killed, and then by the end of the 60’s walking on the moon. During all of this the Green Bay Packers were winning, as were the Baltimore Colts. The Colts had Johnny U and he called all of his own plays and he could do no wrong on the football field, but all of a sudden they could not beat the Packers and most importantly they did not beat the Jets. For me the sixties were a lot of things and one of them was football and the different leagues. The AFL were young and brash and threw the ball, and they had a guy named Namath and he was something and when the Jets beat the Colts the game of football was changed forever, but so was the Colts and Shula and Unitas. You be shown the history of the game Webb Ewbank who was the head coach of the Colts when they won the greatest game in 1958 and the championship in 59 would be fired years later and be hired by the Jets and yes be the coach to beat the Colts in another important game in football. Yes Shula would be fired and then coach the Dolphins and would lead them to three straight super Bowls winning two one being the perfect season. You get all of that back story, plus the trade of franchises by Rosenbloom, who would take over the Rams and Robert Irsay would take over the Colts. Eventually both franchises would end up moving. The Rams after Rosenbloom’s death which his children always thought was suspicious but could not prove anything. This is just a small part of this book and yes I knew some or most of it but it was a great read for me who remembers a different time and a different game than one that is being played today. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Skip Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gilden's book reflects a crazy amount of research, and is taking me through the golden era of football like I haven't experienced since I was a boy in the 70's. What an unusual relationship between young coach and veteran player - as if Belichick was ousted and Sean McVeigh forced to take over managing Brady. Gilden's prose is highly enjoyable thus far, and I have forgotten what the world looked like in the 60's and 70's - I forgot, on purpose, the backdrop of Vietnam, and the state of working class Baltimore. This book is much more than the NFL, its the origins of the present day NFL, and its a story for me about a father and a son, about passing torches efficiently, and about young Shula who I've met on numerous occasions. I wish I could share this with Mad Dog Mandich - he'd have loved to have a voice in this book and about the time. As Shula's days grow shorter, this book has greater value to a a South Florida resident and someone who used to make his way around the NFL in business.

[Jamie Garwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are very few people who can lay claim to changing the NFL landscape to help shape it into this cultural institution and phenomenon that it is. Vince Lombardi, Chuck Noll and others can lay claim but few can rival the impact at their relevant positions such as Johnny Unitas and Don Shula.

Unitas was the first household name at quarterback and Shula became the coach that even non-football fans could recognise and name. Their paths crossed at the Baltimore Colts, and yet their tempestuous relationship was one that helped define that franchise and left a lasting legacy on them both.

Expertly researched and full of anecdotal of names and faces from the era, this is a book that is rich in history and one for fans of NFL everywhere.

[Elizabeth B., M.S.L.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Gilden’s debut book, Collision of Wills: Johnny Unitas, Don Shula and the Rise of the Modern NFL (University of Nebraska Press, 978-1496206916), is more than a story of the relationship between quarterback and coach. It is an entertaining and fascinating history of professional football during an era of great change. With captivating prose, Gilden deftly intertwines the political unrest, sexual revolution, and the civil rights movement of the 1960’s with the evolution of the sport. Shula and Unitas did not agree on much, and their frustrations with each other fueled their individual successes, just as frustrations between the “Greatest Generation” and the boomers fueled societal social changes. You need not be a football fan to enjoy this book, but by the end of it, you might be. Chock full of emotion and anecdotes, as well as compelling play-by-play action, Collision of Wills is a game-changer. Highly recommended.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about the tension that existed between Johnny Unitas and Don Shula during their time with the Baltimore Colts. While the author adequately addresses the main subject he also spends large amounts of time describing the climate of the country during that time. It almost reads as if he felt he did not have enough material to produce a book so decided to add additional material that is somewhat germaine to the relationship, but not really.  This is not a book for sports fans.

I received a free Kindle copy of Collision of Wills by Jack Gilden courtesy of Net Galley  and University of Nebraska Press, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazonand my fiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus pages.

I requested this book as  a sports fan and this era of professional football has always been an interest to me.  This is the first book I have read by the author.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nostalgic glance at the pre-merger NFL, a time and place where players filled multiple positions, goalposts sat in the front of the end zone, defenders got away with murder (almost literally) and quarterbacks were the toughest men on the field.

Here we've chosen the Baltimore Colts as an example of the league's old guard, a venerable collection of championship-caliber roughnecks whose recent status as bridesmaids led the owner to fire his highly-regarded head coach (Weeb Ewbank) in favor of newer, younger blood (Don Shula). This abrupt course correction rankled many in the locker room, particularly franchise signal-caller Johnny Unitas, who felt beholden to his old boss and never really saw eye to eye with the new one. Despite renewed success on the field, the team was a mess of hubris behind the scenes, from the owner's box to the chopping block, and that internal conflict eventually led to a number of messy divorces.

It's a downbeat story with no true heroes - everyone has a major character fault - and an irritating lack of focus. Jack Gilden's narrative jumps around frequently, often to threads that are only vaguely related to the game or its practitioners. An aside about home life in the Unitas household was expected, even if it diminished my impression of the man, but did we really need to spend a full chapter on JFK, Vietnam and the Cuban Missile Crisis? That's not the book I thought I was getting and it's not where Gilden is at his best. The historical detail is decent, but it doesn't provide much that couldn't already be gleaned from Wikipedia and most of the deeper material is left between the lines.

[Mark Peebler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very well written, and was great fun to read, and I had trouble putting it down. I was just a kid when the Jets lucked out against the Colts in Super Bowl III. Even though I watched the game, I didn't fully understand what was going on, except that Shula brought Unitas in too late and the Colts lost the big one. This book explains all of that and more, including those thirteen great years from 1958 to 1971 when the Colts were the best team on the planet. Weeb Ewbank, Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry, Bubba Smith, Mike (Mad Dog) Curtis, Big Daddy Lipscomb, Art Donovan, Gino Marchetti, Tom Matte, and of course, Don Shula. This book gets down into the nitty gritty of the game, the plays, and the players, and is so refreshing when compared against the whining millionaire cry babies that permeate the National Football League today. It harkens back to a time when football was fun and men were men. I would have given it five stars, if not for Gilden's twenty or so page off tangent sacrifice to the altar of political correctness. Even so, this book would suit anyone wanting to know more about the 1960s NFL, their greatest decade. It is an absolute must have for any serious Colts fan.

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars). This is a straight sports book that offers insight not only into the lives of two of the key figures of the 1960s Baltimore Colts (Unites and Shula), but also the history of the NFL and the changing era of the 1960s. While the two men are at the center of the book, this is not an attempt at a comparative bio. You get just enough of their lives to know who they are. Yet, they are but lead actors in the saga of the Colts, their successes and their all too painful failures. Their skills made Baltimore a winning force, but they never achieved the ultimate success. Unfortunately, the two alpha males never got along and there was bitterness decades later.

Both men had their strengths and weakness, and this book is also the same. When the work stays on the football field, that is when it is strongest. However, when it tries to add context of the era and outside the gridiron, then it gets weaker and feels superfluous. A good read for the fan of football and/or those nostalgic for the heyday of the Colts.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent. Aside from being about one of my favourite subjects, it shows a side of the story that is extremely difficult to find elsewhere. The time and effort that Gilden put in to writing and researching this book is only exceeded by his eloquence and writing style. The way that he sets the scene and gives context to everything in the book is impressive. I would highly recommend this to any NFL history enthusiast and I look forward to reading more of Gildens work.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!
The author chronicles the Baltimore Colts from the end of 50s through the early 1970s, with special emphasis on Johnny Unitas and Don Shula. I found it to be a very entertaining to read and incredibly well researched. I specially enjoyed the parts about Weeb Eubank and many of the outstanding Colts assistant staff

[Shaun Ko · Rating 1 out of 5]

I understand writers need to provide the social milieu as the backdrop of their stories, but devoting nearly one and half chapter to Vietnam War is INSANE AND TOTALLY IRRLEVANT. Worse, why defame Ray Lewis to make Johnny U a hero when in fact, HE IS A HERO TO ALL BOYS IN AMERICA EXCEPT IN HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD?? Johnny U is no Choir Boy, yet Gilden painted him life one! HIGHLY UNRECOMMEND!!

[Dave Cottenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Collision of Wills" has moments of being very interesting and others when the reader is forced to question why a section is included in the book. Possibly the error is in the title itself, which pushes the reader to believe the focus will be on Johnny Unitas and Don Shula. Although Unitas and Shula are the main characters of the book, it is really more about the way the NFL changed during their era. The story would have been better served with fewer tangents that, at times, seemed very lengthy for subjects that seemed to be background players at best. The latter third ended up focusing on Unitas and Shula, but it seemed to take too long to get there. Still an interesting read.

[Kingsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 5

[Robert Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book since it chronicles the time and the team that sparked my enthusiasm for football as a young child. Very well written and exposes pro sports and organized football, warts and all.

[Tom Pachuta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, which deals not only with the Colts, but with the social and political issues of the 1960's.

[Studebhawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncovering A Story
The collision of wills as portrayed in this well-written book was, no doubt, real, but was largely hidden from us in Baltimore. Perhaps, it was just a different age of sports journalism. For those of us in Baltimore who lived through this championship era with the Colts, it was one great ride. I started attending games with my father in 1959. We were diehard fans. We enjoyed the glorious highs of football fandom and we suffered through the stunning lows of the defeats.
Of the friction between Don Shula and his star quarterback, Johnny Unitas, we knew little of the friction that existed within the team. The local sports journalists in Baltimore kept this story and it’s associated drama from us. How else can you explain the stunning loss to the N.Y. Jets in the Super Bowl? Something was wrong with our team, but, we could only guess at the real underlying reasons. As fans, we were misled about our favorite team, and, kept in the dark by the local press about the underlying reasons. The Colts were poorly prepared and overconfident for the Super Bowl. Weeb Eubank outcoached us and the N.Y. Jets outplayed us.
The conflict of wills between a star player and his coach reflects poorly on the legacy of both of these men. Johnny Unitas and Don Shula are worthy of their Football Hall of Fame status. In this well-documented story, the author uncovers not only their legendary status but, their very human nature, warts and all.

[Patrick Macke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book a great deal, it was well done and was informative in many ways about how the Unitas-Shula era was pivotal in the transformation of the NFL ... to tell the story it makes sense that the author would also include some of the societal backstories that influenced the profound changes in professional football, but in some cases the book goes too far down the rabbit hole in this regard and it gets bogged down (it didn't need the mini-history of the year 1968, for example, though I found the rather random discussion about Gay Talese and David Halberstam quite compelling) ... alas, too little of this story involves Unitas and Shula, still, there's some great stuff here for the true football fan and you gotta love Johnny U