No Excuses

Charlie Weis was taught football by some of the best minds in the game—at the New York Giants with Bill Parcells and the New England Patriots with Bill Belichick. In a position to learn from the best, Weis flourished under enormous pressure and exacting standards. In 2004, after fifteen years in the NFL and four Super Bowl rings, Weis was named head coach of Notre Dame. And so began a new chapter of his career. Weis took over, and is in the process of building his own legacy with his unique vision. Off the field, Weis faced other challenges. He underwent gastric bypass surgery, but the routine procedure turned into a nightmare. Weis nearly bled to death, lapsed into a coma, and had his last rites read. But he battled back in inspiring fashion. He has had his joys, too—his wife, Maura, and their two children, Charlie and Hannah. Hannah is developmentally delayed and has inspired the establishment of Hannah and Friends, a nonprofit foundation seeking to improve the quality of life for people with special needs. No Excuses is an extraordinary look inside one of the greatest minds who has helped shape football today.