Tim Grunhard: View from the Center: My Football Life and the Rebirth of Chiefs Kingdom

My background was as a poor farm kid. Just like Grunny, there was sweat and ‘grunge’ around the blue collar. I love your love for KC and the emphasis you put and interacting (investing?) with the fans. Your insights into your teammates, Chiefs, and radio really clicked. I hate missing your broadcasts these days because of your knowledge, information, and empathy you constantly show. Thank you for your continued investment.

If you love Tim grunhard or the chiefs this is the book for you. Great read. Fun fun fun!!!

After his career at Notre Dame, Tim Grunhard played his entire NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He made a home in the "MO/KAN" area and raised a family. Unbeknownst to me he was a neighbor in Lee's Summit. Unbeknownst to Tim, I watched from our seats (40 years) behind their bench. The View From the Center is Grunhard's ode to playing here. You WILL read about Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Derrick Thomas and teammates "brother" Dan Saleaumua and roommate Dave Szott. The legendary off field story of accidentally driving Bill Maas' tractor into a lake is recounted. You WILL NOT read about him coming off the field after another "three and out" tossing his helmet across the bench area. Tim was a great competitor who hated to lose just like Coach Schottenheimer AND is a good guy--extra extra read all about it!

Reading this book was like time travel back to Arrowhead Stadium in the 1990s, with Tim Grunhard as the tour guide. Right now (2023) is a fantastic time to be a Chiefs fan. Tim reminded me that the 1990s were great times for Chiefs Kingdom as well. No, the Chiefs weren't a great playoff team in the 90s, but they were so fun to watch during the regular season. Tim does a great job of talking about football, but also about the players, coaches and fans that make up Chiefs Kingdom. For older fans, this book is a nostalgic read from a player's perspective. For new fans, the book provides a glimpse into the reasons that Chiefs Kingdom is so great for fans.

If you are a true Chief's fan, and you remember the incredible players and coaches who were apart of the 90s team you will love Tim's book! He shares his journey from HS in Chicago to Notre Dame then to the Chiefs with incredible stories of the players and coaches who made a great impact on his successes! His stories about Lou Holtz, his play at Notre Dame that shaped him to become a professional player, and being drafted by Carl Peterson in 1990 by The Chiefs, will give you insight into who Tim is today. He is a man with a huge heart, giving spirit, and incredible teacher/coach as well as a wonderful husband, father, and son! In his book, he shares stories about many players especially personal stories about Dave Szott, Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Neil Smith, Dan Saleaumua, Marty Schottenheimer, and the late Derrick Thomas! As a board member for 32 years of the Derrick Thomas./Neil Smith Third and Long Foundation for inter city youth, I felt I was reliving the 90s all over thru his stories about these incredible men who he played with determination, passion, and desire to WIN..A SUPERBOWL which was never achieved! He allows you to see inside his team mates and coaches both on and off the field. As I read each chapter about this 90s Chiefs team, I felt a deep respect for him and what he went thru to achieve RING OF HONOR FOR THE CHIEFS last year! Tim continues to inspire many of our Chief's Kingdom with his weekly radio shows, appearances, and coaching of HS players. He now plays a very important role on our Third and Long Foundation Board which continues to support/teach/train our local youth for his late buddy, Derrick Thomas! IF YOU ARE A CHIEF'S FAN, LOVE TO KNOW THE BEHIND THE SCENES STORIES OF MANY OF HIS TEAMMATES/COACHES FROM THE 90S, YOU WILL LOVE 'VIEW FROM THE CENTER!" Thank you Tim for sharing your personal experiences on your journey with us!

My wife bought me this for Christmas (she got a few hints) because we would go down to his radio shows and are big fans of Tim’s. Tim has written this book as though he’s talking to a friend, he reinforced what I knew and gave me plenty of surprises too. He does an awesome job of telling the story of the Chiefs Kingdom from an inside perspective and captures the close relationship between the players and the fans. We really did feel like we were part of the team and helped them win. We went to a road bus trip to Minnesota, there was about 8 bus loads of Chiefs fans. The Chiefs won a hard fought game as we were loud in that domed stadium and we pretty much took over the Metrodome. In true Tim fashion, at his radio show Tim asked if anyone had been at Minnesota game and gave us credit for helping them win. If I was ever to meet Tim, our conservation would be about this book and I’d demand another one.

Tim always made the fans feel like they were an integral part of the Chiefs, and you get the same up close and personal feeling from his book. As a regular at his infamous Thursday night radio show, it brings back a lot of great memories. But you don't have to be a Chiefs fan to enjoy this book. Any football fan and/or sports fan will enjoy the stories about the relationships and camaraderie with players and coaches, and the hard work it takes to get to the NFL. The stories from college to the NFL are both interesting and entertaining. I recommend this book for any sports fan who misses the "old" days when players were more assessible and fans felt like a part of the game.

You don't have to be a chiefs fan to enjoy this behind the scenes look into life of an NFL offensive lineman. Tim takes you behind the scenes to the relationships, hard work, and wins and losses across his chiefs hall of fame career and his 164 career starts. Highly recommend for any football fan of any team. Outstanding and fun read!