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“Seth Wickersham has managed to do the impossible: he has pulled off the definitive document of the Belichick/Brady dynasty.”
―Bill Simmons, The Ringer

The explosive, long-awaited account of the making of the greatest dynasty in football history―from the acclaimed ESPN reporter who has been there from the very beginning.

Over two unbelievable decades, the New England Patriots were not only the NFL’s most dominant team, but also―and by far―the most secretive. How did they achieve and sustain greatness?and what were the costs?

In It’s Better to Be Feared, Seth Wickersham, one of the nation’s finest investigative sportswriters, presents the definitive account of the New England Patriots dynasty, capturing the brilliance, ambition, and ruthlessness that powered it. Having covered the team since Tom Brady took over as starting quarterback in 2001, Wickersham draws on an immense range of sources, including previously confidential game plans, scouting reports, and internal studies as well as hundreds of interviews gathered over two decades―with Brady, Bill Belichick, and other players, coaches, and front office personnel―to offer a behind-the-scenes chronicle of the dynasty’s three acts: the initial burst of Super Bowls from 2001 to 2005; the plateau period, 2006 to 2014, stalked by scandal, injury, and near-misses; and the second three Super Bowl victories between 2015 and 2019, which allowed the Patriots to make their claim upon history.

At every step, Wickersham demonstrates just how Belichick and Brady shaped the Patriots and reshaped the entire NFL. We are taken deep into Belichick’s tactical mind, odd work habits, and strained relationships, including his sincere but unspoken love for the players and a near fistfight with a former assistant coach. It is an illuminating depiction of a mastermind, and an organization, dedicated not only to winning but to breaking a league designed to prevent the emergence of a single, unbeatable team.

Yet it is in Wickersham’s portrait of Brady―from his idyllic childhood in northern California to his challenging years at the University of Michigan to his astonishing early superstardom in the NFL―that the source of the Patriots’ sheer endurance comes into focus. Even as he navigated an improbable rise to fame, Brady was driven by a totalizing ambition to be great, not as an endpoint, but as an ever-unfolding process. Sustaining greatness, however, came with a price. Wickersham reveals, to an extent no other journalist has, the clashes among the coach, the quarterback, and the owner, Robert Kraft―conflicts that resulted in the team’s best performances but also, eventually, the dissolution of the dynasty itself.

Raucous, unvarnished, and propulsive, It’s Better to Be Feared is an instant classic of American sportswriting, and an unforgettable study of what it takes to reach, and remain at, the summit of human achievement.

It's Better to Be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness, by Seth Wickersham, is a comprehensive and insightful account of the rise and fall of the New England Patriots dynasty, one of the most dominant teams in NFL history. Wickersham, a respected sports journalist, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the team's inner workings, delving into the personalities, motivations, and conflicts that shaped their remarkable success.

The book begins by introducing the key players in the Patriots' story, including quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft. Wickersham deftly captures the unique chemistry and mutual respect that developed between these three men, creating a foundation for unprecedented success. He also explores the team's culture of discipline, accountability, and relentless pursuit of excellence, which became a defining characteristic of the Patriots' dynasty.

Wickersham delves into the team's remarkable achievements, including their six Super Bowl victories in an 18-year span. He provides vivid accounts of some of the most memorable games in Patriots history, such as their upset victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI and their thrilling comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. He also examines the challenges the team faced, including injuries, controversies, and the departure of key players.

One of the strengths of the book is Wickersham's ability to capture the human element of the Patriots' story. He paints vivid portraits of the players, coaches, and executives who contributed to the team's success, revealing their motivations, fears, and aspirations. Wickersham also explores the impact of the Patriots' dominance on the NFL landscape, as well as the legacy of the dynasty and its lasting impact on the sport.

Overall, It's Better to Be Feared is a must-read for fans of the New England Patriots and anyone interested in the inner workings of a championship team. Wickersham's comprehensive reporting and insightful analysis provide a unique perspective on one of the most dominant dynasties in NFL history.