Part memoir and part homage to the game he loves, former National Football Foundation president Bob Casciola mounts a persuasive case in support of football’s relevance to life.

Against a backdrop of increasing pressures and criticism of the game itself, 1st and Forever takes a stand to contend that football is vital by showcasing the inner character of those who’ve played the game.  From European refugees who carved out their legacies between yard markers, to life-changing humanitarians inspired by their on-field experiences, to Hall of Fame players whose positive influence has extended far beyond the close of their careers, 1st and Forever stitches a tale of lives bettered, defined, and enriched by a sport that is like no other.

As a long-time coach and former president of the National Football Foundation, Bob Casciola has served the game he loves for decades. In 1st and Forever, he takes that service to a new level by laying out his case for why, and how, football must be saved. Through a series of inspiring tales of his own experiences and interactions with many of those—both big names and not—with whom he’s crossed paths, Bob makes a case that the future for football can be as bright as its past.

1st and Forever illuminates that the experience of the game itself is too positive and beneficial to cast aside—especially for today’s youth, who deserve the same opportunity to shine on the field as well as off it.

Foreword by: Archie Manning
Afterword by: Bobby Bowden