The NFL Off-Camera: An A–Z Guide to the League's Most Memorable Players and Personalities

by Bob Angelo, Ray Didinger (Foreword)

During his four-decade career at NFL Films, writing and directing segments for weekly highlight shows and national telecasts, Bob Angelo saw and heard things that never made their way into his productions. Now, in The NFL Off-Camera, Angelo mines the thousands of interviews he conducted to compile a revealing collection of short, insightful essays profiling his favorite—and least favorite—pro football players, coaches, team owners, executives, and broadcasters—all of whom he interacted with personally.

 

Angelo effuses about his meeting with the larger-than-life Jim Brown and appreciates the trash talking John Randle. He poignantly reflects on “Bullet” Bob Hayes, the world's fastest man who “could not outrun his demons,” and showcases the mercurial Duane Thomas and the free-wheeling Tony Siragusa. The NFL Off-Camera reveals why Angelo sparred with Hall-of-Fame player turned broadcaster Frank Gifford and demonstrates why Super Bowl champion head coach Sean Payton is his “least favorite person in pro football.” 



From Jared Allen to Jim Zorn, The NFL Off-Camera explores nearly 100 of the game’s outsized personalities and debunks some of football's most enduring myths. Angelo’s original, unfiltered look at Pro Football is as hard-hitting and exciting as any one of his NFL Films.

 

 

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2023

Reviews

[Ty Schadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. So many great stories and so much unique insight into my favorite subject matter, the NFL. Each entry is short and punchy, and made for a great start to the day while having my morning coffee. Something every football fan should have on their shelf.

[Robert J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great stroll down memory lane

I enjoyed reading about players I grew up watching, although I am positive Chris Bahr did not kick for the Giants.

[Robert Pulvermacher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solid bathroom reading. That's it.

[Thomas Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are an NFL fan you should find some interesting stories in this book. Depending on your age you may know all people related in this who are related to the NFL in this book whether they are in the media, owner, coach or player. There is also a section or chapter of the book of what the author considers X-factor players who in his opinion that were game changing impact players. The author first started working for NFL films in 1975 and spent 43 seasons involved in football. Imagine with this many years all the things he has seen and the stories he can tell, which he does throughout this book. This is laid out in a way that you can choose to read this cover to cover, a little at a time or jump around if you have just a couple of minutes to read as the stories are no more than 3 pages long. While reading this it brought back many memories of players i rooted for and some who i despised. There were three that really stood out for me. First was the story of Otto Graham, can you imagine playing three football games in eight days? Did you know that Bud Grant was also a baseball player who pitched two complete games in one day and last was the lengths that John Randle went to make weight to get a try out.