The NFL in the 1970s was ruthless-rife with concussions, broken bones, towering egos, and frequent racial discord. In the midst of this madness was Oakland Raiders’ quarterback Ken Stabler-aka Snake-the cool, confident general leading the NFL’s baddest badass team. While Stabler was noted for his consummate professionalism on the field, his post-game antics were just as legendary. A notorious woman chaser and babe magnet, his wild, larger-than-life persona defied the performance-drenched focus that characterized the rest of the NFL. Yet no quarterback was tougher or more uniquely talented than Stabler; his accuracy, particularly tossing the long bomb, was as good as any QB’s the league had ever seen. Leading the Black and Silver to a Super Bowl championship, he helped redefine the Raiders from losers to champions.

Snake is a rich, full portrait of Stabler’s life and achievements, from his childhood in racially segregated Alabama to his raucous days at ‘Bama under the iconic Bear Bryant to his famed NFL days. It is also an intimate look at the private man-a warm affectionate husband, father, and grandfather, and a Hall of Famer whose death paved the way for greater brain health awareness because of the discovery of his own CTE. Poignant, blunt, and eye-opening, Snake brings into focus a man who forever left his mark on football, the quarterback who studied his playbook by the light of a jukebox.