Considering the many scandals seen within the NFL during the past decade, the book under review is timely. After spending more than two decades working in the Department of Defense and possessing a degree in sports management as well, Bryant is uniquely situated to research and analyze espionage in the NFL…. In execution, the anecdotes are worthy of a Cold War spy novel. The author also takes a deep dive into the well-documented New England Patriots’ Spygate and Deflategate scandals of recent memory…. Recommended. All readers.

Choice Reviews

Sports story or true crime story? Kevin Bryant nails it. It’s both. Professional football is actually just a big business. Profits rise on wins and fall on losses. As in any business, spying for competitive advantage is—in the end—about stealing money. With incidences compiled and documented in a fascinating read, the true scope of espionage materializes. Football is definitely not ‘only a game.’

Kevin D. Murray, corporate counterespionage specialist, technical surveillance countermeasures consultant for NFL teams

The first systematic and detailed examination of espionage tactics, techniques, and procedures continuously used by NFL teams to gain the game day competitive advantage against their opponents. Kevin Bryant provides the only comprehensive review of the extreme measures NFL teams’ owners, coaches, players, and managers take to collect information, steal play signals, and to disrupt opposing NFL teams, to “win at all costs.” This original work gives us insights into what our favorite NFL teams will do to win on game day, with all the dirty tricks, cheating, bribery, deception, lies, coercion, and betrayal that would rival the most thrilling James Bond movie. This thorough and lucid book is indispensable for NFL fans.

David P. Garey, former Deputy Director of Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence for Headquarters, United States Army, European Theatre of Operations

Kevin has drawn on his experience as a former Special Agent and his years of experience collecting and protecting information for the Department of Defense to research this fascinating look into the cutthroat world of NFL 'espionage'. Very detailed and vivid and one hell of a read.

John Willis, retired intelligence officer

[Spies on the Sidelines] is a well-researched examination of the measures taken by professional sports organizations, in this case some teams in the NFL, to achieve success commercially and on the field. In doing so, Kevin Bryant has opened possibilities and interest of similar work relating to high-value sports, an under-researched area.

M.Hanif Majothi, assistant professor of intelligence studies, University of North Georgia

In Spies on the Sidelines, Kevin Bryant takes a deep dive into the murky waters that pro football’s millions of fans never see—the effort by teams to gain an advantage by any means. SpyGate and DeflateGate are just the most notorious examples of the sign stealing, clandestine information gathering, and other nefariousness that goes on behind closed doors. Bryant’s guided tour is a total page-turner.

John Eisenberg, author of The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire