Nothing Comes Easy

Book excerpt: Before cable television, artificial turf, multimillion-dollar contracts, and Are You Ready for Some Football? pro football players lives were not much different from those of the fans in the bleachers. Back in football's Golden Era, the game they played was much simpler but far tougher than anything seen today. Y.A. Tittle began his career in that simpler era, when players were expected to play both offense and defense and had to hold off-season jobs to make ends meet. Following a stellar career that lasted from 1948 until 1964, he retired from the game at 38 after starring for the Baltimore Colts, the San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Giants. Although he was the quarterback in the 49ers famous million dollar backfield, he is best remembered for his three years in New York and for his willingness to take the field when badly hurt. Y.A. took the Giants to three NFL Championship Games.