How do you make a man? You could say that I’ve been trying to answer that question all my life.
Every young boy dreams about growing up and becoming his vision of a man. To a boy, a man is probably a leader and a hero. He might be an astronaut, a cowboy, a soldier, a firefighter, or yes, a football player. He might also be a husband and father. When I was a boy, I imagined myself standing in a pulpit, delivering a stirring message as a preacher. That’s not every young boy’s idea of a man, but it was mine.
But what is manhood, really? How do us guys get there—and how do we know when we’ve arrived?
My answers started forming as I grew up in South and East Dallas with my parents, brother, and sisters. I added more pieces to the puzzle during all the stadium stops of my football career at Notre Dame and with the Raiders in the National Football League. The picture grew clearer when I finally made a total commitment to God and my faith. Today, as a father, I’m guiding my sons as they ask the same question.
The need for an answer has never been greater—and not just for me and my family. Look around. We have ten million moms in America trying to raise their kids by themselves. We have teens who think being a man is getting a tattoo or driving a truck with oversized wheels. We have wives and girlfriends trying to figure out their men, and single gals without a clue of what they should be looking for in a man. And we’ve got millions of guys, young and old, single and husbands and dads, who after years of searching are still trying to understand what it takes to make a man.
I won’t say that I’ve got it all figured out or that I haven’t made mistakes along the way. Yet the blessings I’ve been given, especially my family, my football career, and my faith, have given me unique insights on the male perspective. What I have learned is that becoming a man is about a lot more than talking tough, trying to look cool, or scoring touchdowns. The answer has many layers, some fairly obvious and some much more subtle.
This book is my story. It takes you through the highs and lows of being a member of the Brown family and of being a Heisman Trophy winner and NFL All-Pro. But more than that, it’s a look at the principles and priorities that have made me the man I am today—and that can make you, or someone you love, a man as well.
Let’s get into it.