A Few Seconds of Panic is a nonfiction first-person narrative by Stefan Fatsis, published in 2008.

The book chronicles Fatsis, a professional 43-year-old sportswriter working for The Wall Street Journal, and his attempt to play in the National Football League.

[1] Along the way, he relates the personal stories and struggles that professional football players face in the league.

[2] After some setbacks, Fatsis eventually finds some success as a backup placekicker for the Denver Broncos.

"[6] A Few Seconds of Panic has been compared to George Plimpton's Paper Lion, a 1966 book wherein the author joins the Detroit Lions as a backup quarterback.