Unitas to Unitas: Life's Lessons Passed Down from Father to Son

Quarterback John Unitas was all that America wanted in a man in the late 1950s into the 1960s. He was hardworking, humble, respectful, and true to his word. As a football player, Unitas became known for his trademark crew cut and black high-top cleats . . . which he would later wear when cutting grass because “they were comfortable and still fit.” Blessed with athleticism and a goldenarm, he had a heart that pumped ice water through his veins, allowing him to remain unemotional in the tensest moments of football games. In fact, he is credited with inventing—and perfecting—the two-minute drill; but statistics and accolades weren’t important to him—only winning.

Joe Unitas was fortunate enough to have had twenty-eight great years with his dad and he knows the essence of the man. His father's ambition, determination, and courage never wavered. The examples he set and the lessons he taught are a father's legacy to his son as Joe's biggest supporter and most incredible source of inspiration. His passion and motivation to be the best served as the foundations upon which many of Joe's successes have been built.

Unitas to Unitas offers a deeply personal reflection on John Unitas's legacy and its profound effect within every aspect of his son's life. His life lessons allowed the author to make his own dreams come true. This collection of twenty lessons informed the author's life, and in this book he shares them as inspirational wisdom from one of football's greatest leaders.

Joe Unitas is the producer and writer of the upcoming film UNITAS. The movie is a tribute to his father, who taught him the values of determination, perseverance, and a work ethic that enabled Joe to envision the story, write the screenplay, develop the business plan, and assemble a team of industry professionals to bring his father’s story to the world.

While living in Los Angeles for seven years, Joe had parts in five films: Any Given Sunday, Raising Helen, Max Keebler’s Big Movie, Bandits, and The Princess Diaries. During that time, he also studied and performed in plays at Playhouse West, where he was taught by Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum.

Dr. Kristine Setting Clark was a longtime feature writer for the San Francisco 49ers’ and Dallas Cowboys’ Gameday magazines. She has coauthored books with Bob Lilly, Y. A. Tittle, Jim Taylor, Bob St. Clair, and Mike Siani and has been a frequent guest on ESPN, the NFL Network, and featured in NFL Films presentations and documentaries.