This summer, after they finished their run to a win in Super Bowl 57, we’ll get another likely entertaining treat featuring Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Netflix has announced that it will air a docu-series entitled Quarterback that features an inside look at the 2022 seasons of three respective quarterbacks: Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota. If it’s anything like the previous Captains — a 2022 docu-series on six Men’s World Cup National Team captains such as Croatia’s Luka Modric — it should provide fascinating, mic ‘d-up insight on the in-season life of a professional QB.
Oh wait, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bury the lede.
Yes. This program will feature Mahomes, the reigning MVP and Super Bowl MVP (understandable). It’ll showcase Cousins (less understandable, but probably still compelling). And then there’ll be Mariota, a veteran not likely to return to the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 after what might have been the worst season of his career.
Uh, sure. Okay. I guess?
Announcing Quarterback, a docu-series following the 2022 NFL season through the eyes of @KirkCousins8 , Marcus Mariota, and MVP and Super Bowl champ @PatrickMahomes!
Unprecedented access and for the first time ever players are mic’d up for every game! Premieres this summer. pic.twitter.com/VKC39Vy5fi
— Netflix (@netflix) February 22, 2023
Listen. I know the purpose of juxtaposing this trio with one another could be to present a little variety. It might be a bit boring to put three bona fide superstars under the same spotlight for an extended episodic show. Mahomes, the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow in one place doesn’t seem like it has the same off-field ring to it, you know? (I mean, it probably does. Someone might have overthought this dynamic. There are probably few things in sports better than getting first-hand insight into some of the faces of a league.)
But Mariota? Really?
I don’t want to talk up Cousins too much (because he’s the furthest thing from elite), but Netflix throwing Mariota into this mix might as well be a perfect example of the infamous three-dragon meme. Mahomes and Cousins are ferocious and menacing. Meanwhile, Mariota’s story just seems entirely out of place. I’d rather get deeper stories on players who don’t attempt the unfathomable (for the wrong reasons).
Maybe it wasn’t easy getting someone else. Maybe other organizations weren’t so willing to hand out unprecedented access to their most important players.
At the very least, we can watch Mahomes’ latest legendary 20-game journey to a championship. I suppose that makes this whole production easier to swallow when it comes around the bend.
