"Never Give Up...is Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi's account of the stroke he suffered in '05. Bruschi's recreation of his illness is compelling, as is his rationalization of why he came back and his response to those who said he shouldn't." Sports Illustrated

"There are all sorts of subplots within the larger New England Patriots success story, none more worthy of exploring for inspirational reasons than the one involving Bruschi." Garth Woolsey, Toronto Star

"The New England Patriots may be the most tight-lipped organization in all of sports, but...Tedy Bruschi broke the code of silence with...Never Give Up. It's a candid account...it's personal stuff--not the sort of thing we're used to hearing from a Patriot, much less a player who's been on the roster for a dozen years. But raising stroke awareness is that important to Bruschi." Matt Ashare, The Boston Phoenix

"I really like Michael Holley's stuff...Holley wrote Tedy Bruschi's book, Never Give Up, about his life and return to football after suffering a stroke in 2005. I love the section in the book about the real-life conflict between Bruschi and wife Heidi, who, understandably wanted him to stay retired when he'd recovered...Insightful stuff." Peter King, Monday Morning Quarterback, Sports Illustrated.

"Never Give Up...is a candid reflection on the balance pros must strike between preserving their livelihood and their health. Bruschi writes compellingly about the stroke he suffered in 2005 and why--amid media and internal criticism--he decided to return to the field the next season." Stephen Cannella, FanNation, The Sport's Illustrated's Staff blog.

"Tedy gives you something to believe in. Whether we're winning or losing, he holds his head high, and he knows himself and handles himself so well, others can't help but follow him. The way he practices and plays forces you to become a better teammate; the way he demands hustle and toughness forces you to become a better leader; and the way he carries himself inspires you to become a better person. This made his return to playing on October 30 against Buffalo all the more electrifying. The stadium was louder that night than the nights we had raised our Super Bowl banners. Our captain, our leader, our inspiration was back on the field doing what he loved to do. Tedy had spent months rehabbing, had countless doctor visits, and had undergone hundreds of tests trying to play again. Just eight months after our victory in Super Bowl XXXIX, here we were celebrating a much bigger victory on our home field. Sure it was great to win the game, but that night we were celebrating Tedy's return as he showed us teammates, fans, family, and friends what it takes to become victorious in life.

"You might be coming to this book as a fan of Tedy's football skills and, don't get me wrong, gaining the insights of one of the best defenders in Patriots history is worth the price of admission, but that's just part of the story. There are a lot of reasons to look up to him, and I promise you will finish this book with an admiration for him on a much deeper level."

--Tom Brady (from the Foreword)

The triumphant bestseller—now in paperback!

"Never Give Up . . . is Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi's account of the stroke he suffered in '05. Bruschi's recreation of his illness is compelling, as is his rationalization of why he came back and his response to those who said he shouldn't."

—Sports Illustrated

"[Bruschi's] goal was to tell his story and raise awareness about the warning signs of strokes. Much like his comeback, Bruschi succeeds on both counts."

—The Boston Globe

"There are all sorts of subplots within the larger New England Patriots success story, none more worthy of exploring for inspirational reasons than the one involving Bruschi."

—Toronto Star

"His story is a compelling and convincing one that will appeal to both football fans and those affected by strokes."

—Publishers Weekly

In Never Give Up, New England Patriots star Tedy Bruschi tells the powerful and uplifting story of his amazing comeback from a stroke and rapid return to the game. He reveals how he faced overwhelming physical and emotional challenges on his remarkable road to recovery and shares the invaluable insights he gained along the way. Inspiring and deeply human, Never Give Up is a testament to courage and hope from a true champion on and off the field.

Tedy Bruschi has been a linebacker with the New England Patriots for twelve years, playing in four Super Bowls and winning three. He has also been named to the Pro Bowl. He is an official spokesman for the American Stroke Association. He lives in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, with his wife, Heidi, and their three sons.

Michael Holley is the author of the New York Times bestseller Patriot Reign: Bill Belichick, the Coaches, and the Players Who Built a Champion. He currently cohosts the Dale &Holley show on Boston's WEEI, the No. 1–rated sports radio station in America.

Foreword by Tom Brady.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Prologue.

1 Tedy Bruschi, Linebacker.

2 Growing Up in Cali.

3 Tedy Bruschi, Organizational Trainee.

4 Body and Soul.

5 Tensions at Home.

6 Wandering.

7 It’s All on Us.

8 Take Me Home.

9 My Inspirations.

10 Returning.

11 The Super Bowl Mentality.

12 Once More into the Breach.

Appendix: American Stroke Association and Tedy’s Team.