A Football Life Season 8 Episode release dates & where to watch

1. Carson Palmer

The golden boy with the golden arm won the Heisman Trophy at USC and was the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft. In the NFL, he endured two torn ACLs, two trades, and one very public disagreement with an owner. But he still managed a 15-year career, and currently ranks 12th all-time in passing yards and touchdown passes.

2. Lawrence Taylor

L.T. has been in the spotlight from the moment he stepped into the NFL, and as destructive as he was on the field as one of the best defensive players of all time, he may have been more destructive to himself off the field. Through three decades of interviews, Taylor gives raw, unfiltered, honest answers about the highest and lowest points in a triumphant and tumultuous football life.

3. Tony Romo

The story of how a perfectionist with a love for sports went from small-town Wisconsin to become the face of America's Team for nearly a decade.

4. Willie McGinest

He played for a high school known for producing NFL players. At USC he became an All American. And he helped turn the New England Patriots into a dynasty. Willie McGinest is no stranger to success, but his journey to the top of the football world had anything but a smooth start.

5. Brian Dawkins

He was known as Weapon X on the field, but he was a gentle family man off it. A Football Life: Brian Dawkins looks at the two sides of Dawkins, from the beginnings of his superstar career, through his battles with depression, all the way to the Hall of Fame.

6. Dwight Clark

The story of the former 49ers wide receiver who thought he wouldn't make the team, but went on to make "The Catch," arguably the single greatest reception in NFL history. The play propelled San Francisco to a decade of dominance in the 1980s that saw the team win four Super Bowl titles. Stricken with ALS in his later years, Clark died on June 4, 2018.

7. Bill Cowher

He grew up in a Pittsburgh suburb, and as the Steelers head coach he won eight division titles and a Super Bowl championship. He'll always be known for his Western Pennsylvania roots and blue-collar toughness, but Bill Cowher now has a new home, and a softer side.

8. Mike Holmgren

He led two franchises to the Super Bowl and did something no coach had done in Green Bay since Vince Lombardi--win a title. He's also considered one of the great quarterback whisperers of all time, having coached Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young and Brett Favre.

9. Cris Collinsworth

First, he transformed from a gangly, rail-thin, 6-foot-5 Florida high school sprint champion to a star receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals. After football, he evolved from an HBO feature reporter/funnyman to the most respected and decorated analyst in sports broadcasting.

10. Doug Williams

He grew up without running water in rural Louisiana. He played quarterback in an era when few African Americans did, overcoming prejudice and hardship to become a Heisman candidate, a first round draft pick, and ultimately, a Super Bowl MVP.

11. Thurman Thomas Finale

The Thurmanator led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage four straight seasons and scored a touchdown in four straight Super Bowls. Yet throughout his life, his best trait was being able to take his biggest disappointments and turn them into motivation for his greatest triumphs.