NFL Players' Summer Reading: From '1984' to the Bible
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- Seattle Seahawks defensive linemen are reading "Chop Wood Carry Water," given by defensive coordinator Aden Durde to veterans Leonard Williams (32), Jarran Reed (33), DeMarcus Lawrence (34) and Uchenna Nwosu (29) coming off their Super Bowl LX win over the Patriots.
- Josh Conerly Jr. of the Washington Commanders is reading "Atomic Habits" by James Clear, a book given to him by GM Adam Peters after Conerly was drafted No. 29 in 2025.
- Carson Wentz of the Minnesota Vikings said he has been reading and journaling through the Bible for the past year, noting in early June he was "still in the Old Testament, in the book of Psalms, moving slow."
- Foye Oluokun of the Jacksonville Jaguars is re-reading George Orwell's "1984," which he first read in high school, saying it reminded him "to keep your values and understand how people may try to manipulate you."
- Leonard Williams read all 1,000-plus pages of Tolstoy's "War and Peace" last offseason but opted for a shorter motivational fable this summer centered on mastering process over end goals.
- Other notable picks include Bijan Robinson reading "The Way to Win," Damar Hamlin on "Collective Illusions," Jake Ferguson reading Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," and Juwan Johnson on David Goggins' "Never Finished."
Why it matters: The reading lists reveal how teams and veterans intentionally use offseason literature to shape culture and mindset — Seattle's DC handed the same book to four veteran linemen after a championship, and Washington's GM gave a mindset book to his 2025 first-round rookie, showing reading is now a coached tool, not just a hobby.
