A Big Mess in Texas by David Fleming is a fun read that also offers an eye-opening glimpse into society as a whole during that time.

As an old Baltimore Colts fan (I still haven't gotten over them sneaking out of town under cover of darkness) I was vaguely aware of the story behind this team, but only what would probably have been covered in a three page overview, so this held a special interest for me. Wow did I ever learn a lot!

Like the book description from the publisher makes clear, this juxtaposes the chaos that was this single season with the cultural milieux within which it took place. The partying and fighting of the team is set against the Jim Crow south and the terrorist organization of the KKK. How and why a football team couldn't even survive a season in an area that prides itself, even then, on loving football is a question that needs a multifaceted answer, and Fleming goes a long way toward providing it. Just imagine a son of a rich businessman who believes himself to be above making errors taking what seems like a good bet and completely failing. We all have seen that scenario.

This will be an excellent read for those who love sports, football in particular, but want to know what goes on behind the scenes to make or break a franchise. If your primary interest is sensationalized stories without any context, you will have a more mixed experience since the stories are here but this is a level or two above what you're looking for and requires some level of curiosity beyond just voyeurism.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

I thought I would enjoy this book more and expected wild stories about the players and their hi jinx during the early fifties. There was some of that-a lot about players vomiting. But much of the book dealt with the difficulties Dallas had with Black players in the early fifties and the trials and travails of the ground breaking black players of the day. While that was interesting, it wasn’t how the book was marketed. I enjoyed the book overall but it was not the rip roaring book I was expecting.

Since I am from Texas and do enjoy watching Football, the premise of this book initially intrigued me. Even though I usually read fiction books, sometimes I like to dip my toes into some nonfiction stories. This book was well written and I learned a lot of the history behind it. This book is about the disastrous 1952 Dallas Texans story in NFL history.

I wasn’t even born in the 50’s, but I do love a good history book regarding Texas and Football. A lot of wild and horrible things happened! The players had to deal with rattlesnakes during their practices, they had strip poker with groupies and they got drunk during halftime. Race and civil rights played a huge factor, because there were violent things that happened by the KKK. The things that happened in this nonfiction book are insane! I would have never known any of this had happened, if it wasn’t for this book! Overall, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars rating. It was interesting, came with a clear thesis, flowed well and was well researched!!

Content warnings include violence, racism and adult themes. I think fans of Texas Football history, with a vivid storytelling, would really enjoy reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, author David Fleming and St. Martin's Press for this digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on October 14, 2025!

Full disclosure, I'm not a huge pro football fan except for my favorite team, the 1985 Chicago Bears. I chose this book to complete the sports genre in the genre challenge from my library.

I enjoyed the antics of those involved from the players all the way up to the NFL commissioner at the time. It also provided historical context relating to segregation and Jim Crow in Texas in the 1950's. It sounds odd that both would be in the same book, but the author did a nice job interweaving humor and more serious subject matter.

I recommend the book for football fans and history buffs, especially those interested in Texas.

I received an advance copy from #NetGalley.

The subtitle proclaiming A Big Mess in Texas to be the craziest untold story in NFL history sets expectations for this book to be pretty high and, I’m happy to report, I wasn’t disappointed.

While it’s hard to imagine a time before the NFL became the juggernaut that it is today, this book tells of a struggling league in which not even half of the teams make money. Giles Miller’s opportunity to bring a team to the South (for the first time) only comes about because another team, the New York Yanks, runs out of money and is looking to move. Giles’ father, the owner of a successful textile company, is initially not interested in buying the team, but eventually gives in.

The book’s synopsis gives a good indication of the craziness which ensues. As I read through all of those tales, which I very much enjoyed, it was easy to imagine Hollywood making this book into an excellent film. It wasn’t so much the funny parts, however, which stuck with me. Instead, it was the heartbreaking ways that the team’s two best players, both Black, and their families were treated in the Dallas of the 1950’s. These guys were trailblazers and it’s a shame that many NFL fans might not even know their names.

I read this book wondering if the Texans would eventually become the Cowboys. The answer is no, but the birth of the Cowboys is briefly mentioned towards the end.

The last chapter gives updates on the players and coaches mentioned earlier in the book. It was a fitting conclusion to an excellent book.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read A Big Mess in Texas. The above opinions are my own.