"A universal journey of hope and heart, Freddie's story transcends the game." -- Colt McCoy, NFL Quarterback "Freddie Steinmark was an inspiration not just to the players on his team, but to anybody who knew his story. An incredible person, one of the most courageous people ever to put on a football uniform." -- Joe Theismann, Super Bowl Champion "When we measure the life of Freddie Steinmark with the unyielding definition of a calendar, his time was short. But his story is nonetheless timeless. When we measure by the passion and purpose displayed on the pages of this book, the story of Freddie Steinmark will never go away." -- Jeffrey Marx, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the New York Times bestseller Season of Life "So few athletes have a lasting legacy, and even fewer leave the world a better place than they found it. Now, in the hands of born storytellers, Bower Yousse and Thomas Cryan, the legend of Freddie Steinmark will continue to do his good work." -- Susan Fornoff, author of "Lady in the Locker Room" "On and off the field, Freddie always lit it up." -- Fred Akers, Broadcaster, Head Football Coach, University of Texas (1977-1986), and Defensive Backs Coach, University of Texas (1966-1974) "The 1969 Champion Texas Longhorns were a special team for many reasons, but the biggest one was the remarkable, unforgettable relationship between Coach Royal and his All-American, Safety Freddie Steinmark." -- Aaron Eckhart, actor, "Coach Royal" in the movie My All American "Bower Yousse and Thomas Cryan tell Freddie Steinmark's story so well-faith, family, football, and the incredible impact of courage." -- Griff Wirth, alumnus and current principal of Wheat Ridge High School (Freddie Steinmark's school)

Freddie Steinmark tells the story of a legendary University of Texas football player whose courage on the field and in battling cancer still inspires the Longhorn nation.

Freddie Steinmark started at safety for the undefeated University of Texas Longhorns in 1969. In the thrilling “Game of the Century,” a come-from-behind victory against Arkansas that ensured Texas the national championship, Steinmark played with pain in his left leg. Two days later, X-rays revealed a bone tumor so large that it seemed a miracle Steinmark could walk, let alone play football. Within a week of the Arkansas game, his leg was amputated.

A gritty, undersized player, Steinmark had quickly become a fan favorite at Texas. What he endured during the Longhorns’ memorable 1969 season, and what he encountered afterward, captivated not only Texans but the country at large. Americans watched closely as Steinmark confronted life’s ultimate challenge, and his openness during his battle against savage odds helped reframe the national conversation surrounding cancer and the ongoing race for a cure.

Written with unfettered access to the Steinmark family and archives, Freddie Steinmark: Faith, Family, Football is the exploration of a brief but full life, one that began humbly but ended on a grand stage. It is a fitting tribute to a legendary Longhorn whose photograph, emblazoned with the word “Heart,” flashes on the Freddie Steinmark Scoreboard’s Jumbotron prior to each home football game in UT’s Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium at Joe Jamail Field.

"The authors . . . capture Freddie's cheerful essence, vividly recreate key games and posit his life against the canvas of history. . .Yousse and Cryan  . . . have written a deeply informed and proper tribute to the little Texas Longhorn with Heart." - The Austin American-Statesman