seanlahman.com

My newest book has just been published by Lyons Press. I've taken the analytical methods that formed the basis of the annual football preview books and applied them to past players. The result is an exhaustive look at the history of pro football.

It begins with a look at how the game has evolved over the years. I delve into the changes in playing styles, and the rules, and how other external events affected the game on the field.

The centerpiece is my rating and ranking of the top players at each position from 1920 to the present. I take a detailed look at nearly a thousand players, with new insight on their playing styles and their strengths and weaknesses on the field.

What they're saying about the book:

"The most ambitious and fascinating football book of the year... impressive in both scope and execution. Lahman's insight into the styles of so many players across time makes for a lively, enlightening read. Highly recommended."
 -- Library Journal (starred review)

"Lahman tries to do for football what Bill James once did for baseball."
 -- USA Today

"An extremely interesting new book... sure to spark debate."
 -- Gannett Newspapers

"The best football book of the decade."
 -- Pro Football Researchers Association

"Tell that dude I'm one of the top five running backs of all time. Looking at the caliber of running backs that have played the game, I'm definitely in the top 10. I've got to prove him wrong and make the top 10 before it's all said and done."
 -- Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars running back, after learning I had ranked him #35

The book is nearly 600 pages in hardcover. It's available from Amazon and other bookstores.

There hadn't been a pro football encyclopedia on the market since 1999, which is a little surprising when you consider the tremendous popularity of the game. Pete Palmer and I had been talking about producing a new one since the summer of 2000, and in 2006 we finally had our chance. Pete spent several years working with researcher Ken Pullis to develop a new statistical database, based on an exhaustive game-by-game reconstruction of the historical record. What we've ended up with is the most complete, accurate, and up-to-date football database ever compiled. There are several new features in this book, things that haven't been published anywhere before. The encylcopedia also incorporates some of my analytical work, based on my compilation of play-by-play accounts for games back to 1960. The biggest advance of all might be the price -- Barnes & Noble is selling the book for as low as $17.96. Compare that to the $59.95 cover price for the last edition of Total Football, and you'll see why we were so excited about bringing this book to market.

The critics loved the book. Sports historian John Thorn called it "an all-time great book from an all-pro team of experts." Doug Drinen of pro-football-reference.com said "I have many football reference books on my shelf, but the ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia is the one I will reach for again and again."

The new and improved second edition hit stores in July 2007. It includes a number of new features, including a lengthy chapter I wrote on the evolution of football strategy. more...