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Season 1 of Quarterback, the hit Netflix docuseries, gave sports fans an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the lives of three NFL starting quarterbacks during the 2022 season.
The show documented the struggles and victories of Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, and Falcons QB Marcus Mariota. It’s produced by Omaha Productions and by Executive Producers Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz.
Season 1 was met with critical acclaim, reaching instant classic status among football fans. Although it was just released, the sports media world is already abuzz with rumors, recommendations, and hopes of which QBs might take center stage in Quarterback season 2 (which has been greenlit by Netflix).
If you haven’t seen the first season of Quarterback, we’ll give you a peek at what makes this show so special (and reveal the secret of how Netflix got an all-access pass to film behind the NFL’s typically closed doors). And we’ll clue you into the top 10 quarterbacks fans and critics are begging to see featured in season 2.
Quarterback: The Best Football Docuseries Ever?
With just one season under its belt, Netflix’s Quarterback is already being hailed as one of the greatest football documentaries of all time. Screen Rant recently called it a “stand out” series that would be “nearly impossible to replicate” due to the unprecedented access to the NFL players’ lives.
What exactly makes this show so special? There are a number of reasons why it garnered such a huge fanbase so quickly (it was viewed by over 1.1 million households within 4 days of its release).
First off, the show gives football fans an inside look into the minds of its greatest playmakers. Viewers are given an uncut look at the rituals and routines, the locker room drama, the workouts, the strategizing, and more. It’s one of the most genuine looks into the mind of a quarterback, what Peyton Manning calls “the hardest position in sports.” Any fan who wants to take a deep dive into the inner workings of the game from the perspective of its most important player will not be disappointed.
But the show isn’t just about the quarterbacks. The wives and families of the leading men are just as big a part of the docuseries. As Quarterback producer Joe Zucco said, “They’re not just gladiators out on the field. At home, they have people who are helping them get through the season, and that’s part of the story.”
With access to so much of the QBs’ personal lives, viewers were given a more complete picture of who these men really are. Quarterback’s look at the men behind the helmet has impacted the way that fans and media personalities view each of the QBs.
Finally, the Netflix series gave fans the chance to witness NFL history from a never-before-seen perspective. The cameras were rolling as Patrick Mahomes set a new NFL record for total offensive yards and as Kirk Cousins engineered one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history, leading the Vikings to an NFC North Division title. Thanks to Quarterback’s fly-on-the-wall perspective, fans felt less like spectators and more like part of NFL history in the making.
How Netflix Got Access to the NFL’s Biggest Stars
Many have wondered how Netflix got behind the NFL’s tightly locked doors to gain unrestricted access to its biggest players. The answer is that Netflix didn’t. The company that pulled the strings to produce Quarterback was Omaha Productions, a sports media company owned by former NFL quarterback and Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning.
Peyton Manning founded Omaha Productions in December 2020 after the idea was pitched to him by sports media executive Jamie Horowitz and Josh Pyatt. In just a few years, the company has become, according to Bloomberg, “a media powerhouse” worth over $400 million. And much of that is due to Manning’s hands-on approach.
If there’s anyone who has access to the NFL’s inner circle, it’s Manning. Before shooting began on Quarterback, he personally sat down with each of the quarterbacks featured on the show to discuss the aims of the series and the risks involved. He also got NFL Films involved, another producer behind the show.
Thanks to Peyton Manning’s leadership and the media prowess of Jamie Horowitz and Josh Pyatt, Omaha Productions was able to show fans what it’s like to step into the shoes of an NFL quarterback in a way they’d never seen before.
Top 10 QB Contenders for Quarterback Season 2
Peyton Manning recently announced on The Pat McAfee Show that Quarterback season 2 is in the works. “Season 2 has been greenlit by Netflix,” he said. “And we’re excited.”
While Netflix does not announce who is in the series and all QBs deny being involved, rumors are growing as to who the series will feature next season. Here are the top 10 quarterbacks that we, and some of the biggest names in sports media, would love to see on the show.
1. Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is one of the most electric quarterbacks in the NFL today. As NBC Pro Football Talk’s Chris Simms puts it, “Burrow has a mystique about him right now. We all believe in him. He’s got a magical power that permeates through the rest of the football team. So that’s why it’d be cool to see Joe Burrow [on Quarterback season 2].”
2. Matthew Stafford
Can you imagine the fun we would have listening to Stafford talk with his coach Sean McVay? We could just watch their talks and nothing else. His wife is a media personality and he plays in Los Angeles. This would be a big YES.
3. Josh Allen
If any NFL quarterback has a story to tell, it’s Josh Allen. The Buffalo Bills QB is among the top players in the league today, but he could barely get a scholarship to play college ball and was passed up by six NFL teams during the 2018 draft. We would love to take a behind-the-scenes look at his rise to NFL glory. And as a darling of NFL fans, many of whom don’t don Bills jerseys, it would be fascinating to see how Allen reacts to life in the spotlight.
4. Geno Smith
Geno Smith had a monster year and got rewarded with a massive contract. Yet, we seem to barely know the QB that insiders say is one of the most likeable players in the NFL. This could be the show that introduces us to Smith, the way season 1 introduced us to Kirk Cousins.
5. Jared Goff
Everyone gave up on Jared Goff when he was traded from the Rams to the Lions. But while fans were giving up, Goff was re-charging. Now he leads one of the most exciting teams in the league who seem to suddenly be beloved by everyone. Head Coach Dan Campbell is entertaining in ways unlike any other coach. This would be a fun one.
6. Aaron Rodgers
Quarterbacks are the focal point of the game, and when they also have big personalities, it makes for TV gold. Aaron Rodgers is one of those players. He’s in the news for his controversial takes almost as often as he is for his game-winning plays. Rodgers is making a big move this year from his long-time home with the Packers to the Jets. How will he adjust? And how will his larger-than-life personality affect the rest of the team? We’d love to find out, Netflix.
7. Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa is a young QB who’s having trouble adjusting to life in the NFL—not because of his skills, but because of several concussions he suffered in 2022. Being a quarterback is like having a constant target on your back, and Tagovailoa has taken some heavy hits. We want to know how this QB adjusts his style of play in the coming season—and the effects his struggles have had on his personal life.
8. Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo was out for the season after an injury in 2022 while playing for the 49ers. Now, he’s coming back as the starting QB for the Las Vegas Raiders. Quarterback season 2 could follow Jimmy G as he takes to his new team. Will he be able to turn their luck around after a disappointing 2022 season?
9. Justin Herbert
At 25 years old, Justin Herbert is the highest-paid player in the NFL, and he has the potential to be an all-time great QB. He’s facing immense pressure in the upcoming season and he’s hush-hush about his personal life. While Herbert isn’t a likely contender for the next season of Quarterback, we’d like to see the journey of a younger player on his path to the top.
10. Daniel Jones
How is the guy that led the New York Giants to the playoffs barely known? We have seen videos of him partying with Peyton’s brother, Eli, but somehow he has barely made a name for himself in the biggest market. Can Peyton get Eli – who works for the Giants – to make some cameos in the show working with Daniel? If so, we are in.
Omaha Productions: Quarterback Season 2 Coming in 2024
Our top QB picks for the next season of Quarterback are far from confirmed, but a new season of the Netflix series is definitely happening. The next inside look into the NFL won’t arrive until 2024. Until then, we’ll have to settle with football.
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