Payton and Brees: The Men Who Built the Greatest Offense in NFL History

The Athletic sportswriter Duncan (From Bags to Riches) draws on his unfettered access to the New Orleans Saints in this expert account of the franchise’s astounding turnaround in the early aughts after years of mediocrity. The underdog tale spotlights the partnership between relatively unknown coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, fresh off the shoulder injury that ended his run with the Chargers when he joined the Saints in 2006. Duncan runs readers from the days of Payton’s recruiting Brees—who was moved by the team’s “loyalty” and “confidence” in courting him, and was keen to help the city rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Katrina—through the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV victory and Brees’s eventual record-setting. Throughout, Duncan reveals the inner workings of what has become one of the most successful relationships in NFL history. Hardcore debaters of the nuts and bolts of the game will relish Duncan’s descriptions of the distinct Payton offense, from its evolution of the West Coast style through his championing of a hyperaggressive attacking philosophy that depends on the kind of mastery of the field that Brees maintains. Perfect for football fans of all stripes, this dual-focus portrait celebrates the winning power of strong bonds between coach and player. (Oct.)