On July 8, 2025, Netflix released the second installment of its documentary-style series titled "Quarterback."
This series gives viewers a look behind the scenes at some of the most recognizable names who hold the most recognizable position in the NFL. These quarterbacks hold the occupation that many have claimed to be the “toughest in sports.”
The first season gives viewers a chance to see the in-season lives and day-to-day preparations of three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes, Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota, and former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The documentary was filmed during the 2022 campaign and released in mid-July of 2023, being executively produced by NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.
This time around, the sequel features a return of Cousins while documenting his big move in free agency from the Minnesota Vikings to the Atlanta Falcons. It also adds the perspectives of two other household names – Heisman trophy winner and college football national champion Joe Burrow (considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league) and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (the pilot of one of the most high-octane offenses in the league).
The program features an inside look at these three players’ lives during the midst of the 2024 season and a small portion of their offseasons. The series is dramatized slightly for entertainment purposes, but it mostly follows the true-to-life retelling of the events that unfolded on the gridiron last year.
Highs
At the start of the episode "Beautiful Minds," it is fascinating to hear each of the veteran quarterbacks break down the pre-snap process before each play and explain just how much on-the-fly mental preparation goes into preparing the offense under the pressure of a 25-second play clock.
Between checking the safety alignment; spotting if the defense is in a Cover 2, Cover 3, or quarters look; seeing if there is an extra man on the line of scrimmage signaling a blitz; potentially changing the play if they do not like what they see; sending offensive players in motion; trying to get the defense to jump offsides; and potentially even more — there is so much more that goes into playing quarterback at the highest level of football than simply walking up and snapping the ball.
This ties into all the off-field preparation and homework that Burrow, Cousins and Goff each do during the week so they can quickly identify the type of coverages they will see at the line of scrimmage on game day. That allows them to know exactly where to go with the ball to beat the look that they are facing.
Another well-done aspect is the series' documentation of iconic moments during the season, including how the quarterbacks felt about those moments in real time. From Burrow’s Superman-esque touchdown pass against the Browns, to Goff and the Lions’ iconic "Stumblebum" play, it is a fever dream to relive those moments with the men who created them and hear exactly what was going through their heads when they happened.
The documentary also does a very nice job of humanizing the players and their personal struggles. During the NFL season, players, especially quarterbacks, are largely reduced to media narratives that drive social media discourse and subjects of ire from die-hard team fans, angry fantasy football players, and sports bettors when they do not live up to expectations. "Quarterback" does a fantastic job of taking viewers behind the scenes and showing that these are real human beings who lace up the cleats and take the field each Sunday.
In the season’s final episode, "Final Snap," Kirk Cousins is benched due to a string of poor performances following a shoulder and elbow injury that was not highly publicized. Cousins handles his demotion with grace. He calls his replacement Michael Penix Jr. immediately after the decision is made and embraces his new role as the scout team quarterback in practice for the first time in a decade.
Seeing Cousins’ wife break down in tears while describing the benching, how Cousins found out about the news, and his behavior following the decision effectively pulls on viewers’ heartstrings and illustrates the harsh realities of the NFL.
Also, during the final episode, Jared Goff and the Lions lose to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs following the most successful season in franchise history. Goff and his wife’s reaction to the defeat hits hard - viewers see his wife break down into tears once she knows the deficit is insurmountable, and Goff admits multiple times that some of his errors still keep him up at night months into the off-season.
Moreover, it is captivating to see the day-to-day aspects of each quarterback’s life as he navigates the daily trials and tribulations of the NFL season.
Hearing Joe Burrow, a mostly private individual, talk candidly to his teammates about fossils, iguanas and his purchase of the new Batmobile is a nice change of pace. It shows the unserious side of one of the best players in the league.
Likewise, it is also sublime to see that perspective from Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff as both navigate family life and raising kids to Christmas decorations and newly married life respectively, once again humanizing each of them that much more.
Lows
One thing that would be fascinating to see in the documentary would be more interviews and perspectives from each of the quarterback’s teammates. While big names such as Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase are included, it would be nice to also hear from fellow Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins or Lions running backs Jamhyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Additionally, longer portions of the documentary or even a full episode dedicated to the preseason and offseason preparation that each quarterback puts in would be nice.
This may be a little too in the weeds for casual football fans just looking for something NFL-related to fill their time, but it would also be nice if the series were to show at what portion of the offseason the quarterbacks ramp up their training, how they prepare for new defensive coordinators and potentially new defensive schemes on their schedule, what their nutritional intake looks like on a daily basis, and more.
Verdict
Overall, "Quarterback" does what it is designed to do – peel back the curtain and offer a behind-the-scenes look at arguably the most difficult position to play in professional sports.
From the highs of Jared Goff leading the Lions to their best season in franchise history, to the lows of the potential end of the road for longtime NFL veteran Kirk Cousins, to the up-and-down season of Joe Burrow’s Bengals, the three different perspectives and seasons of each player are enough to keep viewers fully invested for all seven episodes.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Caleb Henderson is the sports editor for The Eastern Echo. He has worked for The Echo since the fall of 2024. He has written sports stories, and this is his first review.
