about

Overcome

What do you do when the weight of loss leaves you feeling completely overcome?

After losing his brother on September 11, Craig Woodall was consumed by grief, confusion, and a quiet sense of helplessness. The sadness didn’t just visit—it settled in. But over time, he discovered a powerful truth: while you may be overcome by sorrow, you can also choose to overcome it.

In Overcome, Craig shares a raw and deeply personal journey through loss, healing, and rediscovery. Through honest storytelling and practical insight, he reveals how small, intentional choices can rebuild a life that felt shattered.

This is a story of heartbreak—but also of hope, resilience, and the decision to rise.

Because even when life overwhelms you, you still have the power to move forward.

Craig woodall

Family Photos

Praise for Overcome

How do we keep living when a piece of our hearts is suddenly, irrevocably taken away? Craig Woodall’s beautiful book examines these questions, after the death of his brother Brent on 9/11. A celebrated Cal football and baseball player who was months from meeting his first child, his loss left more than a void. With honesty and power, Craig shares his journey through grief and challenge over the last 25 years, and how he found the strength to turn tragedy into healing, meaning and purpose. A tender and moving personal tribute, this book is an essential light for anyone who has suffered loss, and is searching for hope and proof that love endures, and sustains.

—Tom Rinaldi, Author of New York Times bestseller The Red Bandanna

Craig Woodall gifts us a masterclass in turning heartbreak into hope. With vulnerability and strength, he invites us into his darkest moments—and then shines a light on how to find the courage to turn pain into purpose. His message is both timeless and urgent: we don’t outrun storms; we grow through them. A moving, meaningful, and transformative read that weaves deeply personal storytelling with practical tools to help expand our capacity to live with joy, love and intention.

—Steve Gross
Chief Playmaker, Life is Good

Craig Woodall’s telling of his journey to forge his way through the personal loss of his brother in the midst of a national tragedy is definitely a worthy read. I, too, navigated a personal loss on September 11, 2001. Craig and my stories are different but at the same time similar. Just as loss and grief are experienced differently for each person there are universal truths that can be found in the reading of someone else’s story. For many years I have believed that the stories of September 11 form a mosaic. The stories aren’t necessarily interconnected like a puzzle but lay alongside each other to create a picture of what happened, a living snapshot of what we went through and are still dealing with twenty-five years later.

—Ann Van Hine
Widow of FF R. Bruce Van Hine, Squad 41 and author of Pieces Falling: Navigating 9/11 with Faith, Family and the FDNY

I had the privilege of coaching Brent Woodall during his time in the football program at University of California at Berkeley. He was the kind of young man every coach hopes to represent his program. Disciplined, competitive, humble, and loyal. He was the epitome of a student-athlete. He competed in the classroom as relentlessly as he did on the field. Brent was the kind of teammate, leader, and man you never forget. Losing him is something that is hard to put into words. What Craig Woodall has done in Overcome is just that—he’s found the words. He’s taken unimaginable loss and turned it into something honest, meaningful, and deeply inspiring. This book doesn’t just talk about grief—it shows what it looks like to persevere through it, grow from it, and honor someone’s legacy through the way you choose to live your life. That’s what Brent stood for. And that’s exactly what this book delivers.

—Steve Mariucci
Former College and NFL Head Coach, NFL Network/ESPN Analyst