Bringing the Heat

by Mark Bowden

Bringing the Heat is the story of one team's season-long campaign for the NFL championship, told through the personal stories of the men on the field and the coaches, managers, and owner on the sidelines. The team is the 1992 Philadelphia Eagles, a group of players assembled in the iconoclastic image of their former head coach Buddy Ryan. They are known throughout the league for their ferocious defense and for the otherworldly talents of their quarterback Randall Cunningham.
Award-winning journalist Mark Bowden gets deep inside the world of professional football in a way no writer has ever done before, with an insightful and hilarious portrait of one of the most exciting teams ever to play the game. He spares none of the game's ugliness - the greed, the racism, and the often sadistic violence - while capturing the beauty of athleticism at its highest level, the courage of men who face each play knowing that one bad hit can end a career, and above all the exultant glory of victory that inspires their struggle to be the best.

Genres: Sports, Football, Nonfiction, History

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Mark Bowden is an American journalist and writer. He is a former national correspondent and longtime contributor to The Atlantic. Bowden is best known for his book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War (1999) about the 1993 U.S. military raid in Mogadishu, which was later adapted into a motion picture of the same name that received two Academy Awards.
Bowden is also known for the books Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw (2001), about the efforts to take down Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, and Hue 1968, an account of the Battle of Huế.

Reviews

[Dimas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the paperback edition of Bringing the Heat. In this version, there is an afterward from Mark Bowden — written in 1999 — where the author admits that he knew very little about football going into this book. This ends up being a positive. Bringing the Heat — a look at the 1992 Philadelphia Eagles — doesn't have the clichés these kind of sports books tend to have. (Spoiler alert: the '92 Philadelphia Eagles do not win the Super Bowl.)
This was evident to me in three specific ways:


1. There is no real protagonist.

This is a book about a team; not a book about how a character fits in within one. There isn't a principal character, but there is a spirit guide: it's the late defensive end Jerome Brown, who gets killed in a car accident before the '92 season. The book starts and ends with stories about Brown and his family, and the Defensive end is referenced by his teammates throughout. (The defensive unit dedicated the season to him.)


2. No character's story is left untold.

In these types of books, authors might cover the back story of a handful of players. Not here. Bowden spends an exhausting amount of time going in-depth about every significant — and insignificant — player on the team. We read about character's upbringings, parents, wives, mistresses, career goals, etc. It really is a credit to Bowden's reporting.


3. The nonlinear plotting of the book.

This isn't a book that starts in the preseason and ends in the Super Bowl (or in the Eagles' case, the NFC Divisional Round.) The story hops all over the place, from character to character and scenario to scenario, like an early Quentin Tarantino movie. The structure of the book constantly left me off balance; I loved the innovation of it.


Bringing the Heat is Mark Bowden's first book, and you can tell. It's definitely Bowden's most loose book, prose wise. In this book Bowden writes in a very easygoing, confabulatory style (even though the on-the-field descriptions can be a little jargony for football newbies.) As someone who's read his fair share of Bowden before, this threw me off; I'm used to him being the plot gawd. Here, he's clearly trying to flex his writing muscles, and the results are sometimes mix. He would clean this up by the time Black Hawk Down came about, five years later.

[Tom Gase · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on the NFL I've ever read and this will be one of the better books I read in 2018 and it's only February. This book, written by Mark Bowden (author of Black Hawk Down and Hue 1968) details the 1992-1993 season of the Philadelphia Eagles. Bowden, who admits he wasn't that much of a sports writer (he actually doesn't really like them and calls them "The Pack" throughout the book), does an amazing job with his research. Yes, there is description of all the games, but what Bowden does so well is tell the reader about all the players. And I mean ALL the players, from Randall Cunningham and Reggie White to a wide receiver who caught just one pass in his entire NFL career in a preseason game...for a touchdown. The book has a flash forward with the playoff game at the end of the season against the Saints, but that first chapter ends with the Eagles down at the half. Bowden then goes back to the start of the year, which ends in tragedy and Jerome Brown's death. Brown, along with Reggie White (great player, very religious), Cunningham (good player, but doesn't follow system, study film and is too protective of his image), Seth Joyer (pretty much an asshole that says he won't speak his mind, but does. Says he will always blame himself for mistakes but never does), Wes Hopkins (cheats on his wife, along with Joyner), Mike Golic (doesn't take life too seriously, is comic relief at times), Buddy Ryan (is funny, but only when not trying, kind of a back-stabber with owner, GM), Hershel Walker, Eric Allen, Clyde Simmons, Ben Smith, Keith Byars, Fred Barnett, Calvin Williams, Jim McMahon are all described in detail in this book. I can't recommend this book enough, especially if you like watching the NFL in the early 1990's. Shows that a bunch of NFL players are complete assholes, but that the life can sometimes be heartbreaking (injuries, cuts). I think I like this book so much because Bowden ISN'T your typical sports writer, so he goes against the grain in what is sometimes normal stuff for sports writers. He focuses more on getting to know the players, so when he talks about the games later you (the reader) find yourself rooting (or in a lot of cases, not rooting) for the players to do well. Good stuff all the way. And I actually hate the Eagles.

[Writemoves · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about NFL football that I have ever read. What made it special was that it covered a season for the Philadelphia Eagles. As I read it, it was a bit outdated as it covered a season that was 28 years ago. But I remember so many of the main characters covered in this book including Buddy Ryan, Norman Braman, Seth Joyner, Jerome Brown, Randall Cunningham, Wes Hopkins, Reggie White etc.

Bowden was like a fly on the wall. He detailed all the behind the scenes activities of the organization. He even had interesting stories about the marriages of Seth Joyner and Wes Hopkins. Both players had girlfriends in addition to their wives and Bowden wrote about some of the explosive times in those marriages.

There are a number of great human interest stories. You will like Mike Golic, Dave Alexander and Ron Heller. Rich Kotite comes off much better than how I remember he was typecast back in 1992. Some very interesting stories about Buddy Ryan and how the Defense was very loyal to him.

It’s a very long book but it moves along nicely for the reader...

[Gustavo Hurtado Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

God this book is a mess. So it's telling that this book is held up as this hard boiled gritty real look at the inside of an NFL team, when actually it's 2-D gossip book with the main access points being Eagles Ownership and the coach Richie himself venting to Mark. There is this weird ass racist tone when he talks about the Black Eagles players versus white eagle players. There's so much gross stuff and messy trash that just filler for the book and the page count. Don't get me wrong Mark is a strong writer but makes wild, cringy, sexist and racist choices. The last chapter starts with probably the crappiest edge lord line to end the book. It is also so serious. It's fun to look back at the early 90s but also a time where the play style and the commentary around the game was even dumber and ill informed. The Andre Waters stuff is so bleak and cynical in retrospect that it makes you feel gross for humanity. A self serving romp for all at best, a bootlicking gossip rag at worst.

[Wes F · Rating 4 out of 5]

The inside scoop from a great writer who worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sports Section for a few years, before becoming a best-selling author of books like Black Hawk Down. Loved learning more about the inside workings of an NFL team--in this case, the Philadelphia Eagles (not exactly friends of us New England Patriots!)--and of the players, coaches/trainers, owners, and wives/families. The days of the Minister of Defense--Reggie White--and Jerome Brown, and the razzle-dazzle (self-centered spotlight-must-be-on-me man) Randall (nicknamed "Ran-doll" by teammates) Cunningham, relative of Sam-the-Bam Cunningham, running back extraordinaire of the NE Patriots in the days of yore. Bowden did his research over 2-3 years and does a great job weaving all the stories of the main players into a tapestry. Bought this for a song on sale and read it on my Kindle.

[Karl Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being an Eagles fan in the late 80's and early 90's and living in Alaska made for a tough time. Getting in-depth news about your team prior to 24/7 sports TV and internet was next to impossible. My tenuous link to the Eagles was provided by an occasional game on TV, George Michael's "Sports Machine" on Sunday nights and Phila Inky sport sections mailed up by my Mom. So, this book provided a valuable look at the post Buddy birds thru the Ray Rhodes era, and the impact of jerome Brown and his death in a self inflicted auto accident. Those guys wanted a SuperBowl and appeared to have the talent to win it. But alas, we had to wait for SB VII. Great look at the personalities involved in Eagles football at that time, including the owner, N. Brahman and the executive staff.

[U. Ray Eke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ended up on my reading list because it was listed as a great sports book in a podcast I listened to years ago. I knew nothing beforehand about the team (1992 Philadelphia Eagles), had only heard of one of the players/coaches/team executives/people chronicled (Reggie White), and yet I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author is amazing at making all the different characters fascinating and at the same time making travails of the season interesting as well. Highly recommend for people who like excellent writing and captivating story telling!

[Curtis Edmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a lifelong Cowboys fan with a long memory, and I remember the Eagles of Mark Bowden's brilliant, kaleidoscopic tale as being pathetic, inept villains. Come to find out that they were flawed human beings as well. Bowden mashes the detailed X's and Os of the game with mini biographical sketches, making the failure of the Buddy Ryan-era Eagles into a multilayered Greek tragedy. Highly recommended.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really love Bowden’s writing. Cast of characters is amazing. Writing is memorable and strong, often very funny. As far as nonfictional characters go, it’d be very hard to top Jerome, Randall, and Buddy. Totally fascinating.

[Dbizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on the game of football

Fun and irreverent look at the inner dynamics of an NFL team with a keen and critical eye cast on the plays, players, and coaches that make or break a season.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75. Bowdoin adopts a cynical view of professional football in this account of Coach Buddy Ryan’s Eagles team. I appreciated the in-depth looks, but I sometimes found myself asking where the structure was pointing.

[Robert Natale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book for any football fan. You don't need to root for the Eagles to enjoy this.

[Edward Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible in depth look at football from coaching, front staff, and players. Covered the 1992 Eagles- Randall Cunningham, death of Jerome Brown, Reggie White. Buddy Ryan’s demise

[Chavala Trigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bowden has a gift for introducing and ingratiating a character that is unmatched by even the most skillful of fiction writers. 'Bringing the Heat' transcends the boundaries defined by the non-fiction sports genre by not only revealing what is shrouded beneath the gridiron curtain, but also exposing the hearts and minds of the men who devote their lives (and bodies) to the game. This book tells a story that is capable of standing on its own apart from football and can truly be appreciated by readers who are neither fans of the team nor the sport in general. However, fans of the sport are in for a rare treat as Bowden's ability to relate the highlights of a game leave the reader hanging on the edge of his seat in anticipation of the outcome (even if he already knows the final score).
Although all of the former contribute to the quality of the story, the most significant element of the book is how Bowden consistently demonstrates the connection between awe-inspiring talent and an inherent tendency for extreme behavior. Similar to examples seen in a variety of disciplines, such as literature, academia, art, science and others; uncommon talent,ability, and pure genius are often accompanied by the unwanted side effect of dysfunction or the inability to cope with life. Contrary to popular belief it is not simply fame and fortune that lead gifted individuals down the road to ruin; rather it is the nature of a person capable of amazing things to continually seek out extreme experiences; eg. deviant, dangerous or illegal activities to name a few.
Additionally, the snapshot of this era in the history of the Eagles is compelling and heartbreaking in itself and enough to fuel interest all the way to the conclusion. Finally, after finishing the book and researching many of the featured players from the story (mostly those from the original "Gang Green" Defense) it seems that misfortune and tragedy continued to plague these men like a curse, even long after they left the team. Unfortunately, Jerome was only the first, on a long list of premature deaths (including a suicide). I would be very interested to read a follow-up if Bowden was so inclined. The only regret I have is reading this before I read other football books. It has set an impossibly high standard for which all subsequent books are now unfairly subjected and I am often disappointed.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better football books I ever read. In Bringing The Heat, author Mark Bowden passionately discussed the on and off the field lives of the 1992 Philadelphia Eagles.

This book didn't just give game by game recaps or have back stories on just the stars of that '92 Eagles team. No, this book made you feel like you were actually there with that team as they prepared for their games and such.

One of the best parts of this book was when the author delved into the background, playing career, and then death of stud Eagles defensive lineman Jerome Brown. The sad thing was, Brown was beloved by teammates; beloved by many in his hometown of Brooksville, Florida; respected by football fans all over the state of Florida for what he did for the Miami Hurricanes; AND he just made the NFL's All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl in 1991. But by the start of the 1992 season, Brown's body was in a casket buried six feet deep in the Fort Taylor Cemetery in Brooksville, Florida.

That '92 Eagles team was one of the most talented and one of the most loaded teams in recent NFL memory. But yet and still that team didn't win its division (second place in the NFC East to the Dallas Cowboys) and it lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs to those same Cowboys 34-10.

Bowden made you feel the pain within this book of a super talented team that came up short. To this day I think about that team and this book.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to NFL historians and die-hard Eagles fans. That '92 Eagles team was better than the 2017 Eagles team that the won Super Bowl LII. This book will have die hard or long-time Eagles fans shaking their heads at what that '92 team had and how they came up short partly because of a budding dynasty, the 1990s Dallas Cowboys.

[Oliver Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the best work of sports journalism yet written. The profiles are better, deeper, and franker than those found in "Paper Lion" (The late Jerome Brown and Seth Joyner warrant books of their own, and it feels like Bowden has given that to them; in fact, each character, from coach Rich "uptight" Kotite to flamboyant narcissist Randall Cunningham (given the success of Michael Vick, who has posted inferior numbers to RC in most categories, it's easy to forget what a transformative and culturally ubiquitous figure Cunningham, like his contemporary and friend Arsenio Hall, was during this period), seems to occupy a separate book). Infidelity, injury woes, and the transitory nature of athletic fame...it's all on display in Bowden's definitive account of the best non-Super Bowl winning NFL team of the late 80s/early 90s (the mid 00s Eagles, strangely enough, occupy a similar place). Although the stakes are much lower than those recounted in Bowden's Black Hawk Down, this is a better, more thorough work. Five stars, and then some.

[M. R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought may be I responded well because this deals with not only my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, but the 1992 team that I first fell in love with whom I began to live and die "Iggles" football, the first personalities I began to remember forever,

But actually, this is a great great football book by Mark Bowden, who would later author Black Hawk Down. From ancedotes of training camp to the backgrounds and mismanagements of the front office, you're in the middle of the '92 Birds just as later you'd be put in the middle of the failed battle in Somalia.

[Eric Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bringing the Heat" is one of the true classics of sportswriting, along with Buzz Bissinger's "Friday Night Lights." True,there are some significant differences: Bowden focuses on the Philadelphia Eagles, while Bissinger follows a Texas high school football team. But both authors go beyond the game-of-the-week headlines to give us a no-holds-barred look at the world of sports.

"Bringing the Heat" is rich in vivid characters, sharp (if occasionally too clever) writing and provocative insights. If you haven't read it yet, be sure to pick it up.

[R.Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a Philadelphia Eagles fan all my life, and was excited to read a legitimate book documenting the turbulent Buddy Ryan era, with particular emphasis on the tragic 1992 death of Jerome Brown and its effect on what could have been the Eagles' greatest team.

It provided a good insight into the various relationships throughout a diverse cast of characters, but ultimately had the overtones of a typical recent Eagles' season itself--good, but not quite good enough.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read that centers on the Philadelphia Eagles of the early 90s. Bowden uses the backdrop of the season to explore the personalities and lifestyles of the key members of the team. From the insights of young athletes coming into large sums of money, to the "celebrity bed rooms" in Randall Cunningham's house. Other insights focus on how unpredictable a NFL career can be. A simple injury, or a younger and faster player can bounce even the best from the league.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have been a five star read if I actually cared about the Philadelphia Eagles. Bowden must have had unbelievable access and he did not waste it. Lots of interesting tidbits from the 1992 NFL season (I did not know that Jeff Fisher was interviewed for the Philly job after Buddy Ryan was fired and almost got the job).

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great telling of a tragic story.

[Jihae · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's a good read. great read during football season.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to dislike sports books but this was fun, interesting and fast paced.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are sports books that do the on-the-field stuff well and sports books that do the sociology well. This is one of the few that does both. I don't know why it's not a classic, but it should be.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great look at my childhood era Eagles

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this b/c I love football and I love Bowden. I did not love the book, though.
Great reporting, but really substandard writing. Cliched. I wanted it to be something it wasn't.

[Bryan Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-A-G-L-E-S!!!

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read for fans of the Philadelphia Eagles.

[Dimitri]

The Wes Hopkins story. . .