Written by Joel Pesantez
Sports fans all over the world have been plagued by one question; what’s the most difficult position to play? Some may say being a soccer goalie or baseball pitcher, but the recently released Netflix miniseries Quarterback makes its argument, showcasing the brutal physical and emotional toll that being a quarterback in the NFL takes on a person.
The show starts with a stellar premise, following the life of three quarterbacks throughout the 2022 NFL season with seemingly unlimited access. These subjects aren’t all made equal, but each has a unique journey that makes for a relatively interesting watch.
Admittedly, I’m not the biggest football fan, but the talent and impact of the three main subjects is undeniable. Patrick Mahomes is especially interesting to watch as he continues to etch his name in the history books and make the case that he is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Seeing Mahomes’ workouts and his analysis of game footage should make this a must-watch for any football fan. The added commentary from his family members and teammates works to humanize the larger-than-life player, along with the footage showcasing the minutiae of his everyday life. It also doesn’t hurt that Mahomes sounds exactly like Danny McBride, something that never failed to catch me off-guard every episode.
Mahomes was an obvious pick for the documentary, but the other two subjects are far more inspired choices. Kirk Cousins, an aging quarterback who blossomed relatively late in his career, attempts to finally reach Super Bowl glory. Cousins provides a nice contrast against Mahomes, in everything from his traditional playing style to their career trajectories. Whereas Mahomes probably still has another decade of football in him, Cousins’ career is inching closer to its end. It was fascinating to see how much weight every loss or win held for him, knowing it could potentially be his last. Cousins isn’t nearly as compelling as he should be, though. He comes across as a regular, everyday guy who just happens to be one of the best football players. He doesn’t command the screen in the same way Mahomes does, which makes his journey feel a little underwhelming considering its intriguing setup.
On paper, Marcus Mariota should be the most interesting player to follow. A former high draft pick who’s struggled to translate collegiate success to the NFL, Mariota’s life is ripe for something like this. In practice though, Mariota’s storyline is undoubtedly the weakest one, as his season results in disappointment, and the filmmakers struggle to find a use for him. Instead of exploring his thoughts on losing his starting job or how he deals with brutal injuries, he is cut out of the final few episodes. His absence isn’t all that noticeable at first, which speaks to how misused he feels throughout the series.
The varying levels of success of these players contribute to one of the documentary’s biggest issues, particularly in that some players get way more screen time than others. Cousins and Mariotta feel like afterthoughts, completely overshadowed by the Goliath that is Mahomes. Their storylines move at different speeds, which makes the series feel like a mess at times. In this way, the selections for the documentary subjects feel somewhat random, as other than their position, there isn’t much tying these players together. Mariota especially sticks out, feeling like a last-minute addition they needed to round out the cast. Pairing the obvious star of the series, Mahomes, up with other promising, young QBs like Joe Burrow or Josh Allen would’ve made for a far more engaging and cohesive show. Even contrasting Mahomes with some of the older greats, like Tom Brady or Aaron Rogers, would’ve made for a more interesting dynamic and been more fitting than what we got.
Netflix’s Quarterback is a solid documentary series that would fit right in on ESPN. The series takes advantage of past successful winning formulas, like 30 for 30, showcasing the struggle of being an athlete and applying it to the world of football. The series shows promise, but it makes a couple of head-scratching decisions that keep it from reaching its full potential. Its selection of subjects is particularly confusing, selecting three quarterbacks that don’t seem to have much in common with one another. If the show were to return for another season, it would be interesting to see the show pick three players of the same caliber or at a certain point in their career. [Editor’s Note: The series has been renewed per series producer Peyton Manning]. Despite its glaring issues, Quarterback should carve out a spot on the watchlists of most sports fans, largely due to the captivating star power of Patrick Mahomes.
