Watch Quarterback on Netflix

The series gives fans an inside look at the players’ lives on the field and off. It documents intimate moments with their families, friends and trainers, following them from the field to their homes in a first-of-its kind, in-depth look at the job.

It also reveals the many pressures involved: what it’s like to receive an entire stadium’s cheers or boos, or be chased by a 300-pound defensive lineman and the reality of having to ask your loved ones to make sacrifices on your behalf.

The three players featured in the series are at completely different points in their careers.

Mariota struggles to hang on to his starting role, while Mahomes is considered to be the best quarterback in the game.

Cousins is an entrenched starter, but has yet to have an extended playoff run.

And only one of the league’s 32 starting QBs can navigate all the pitfalls that pop up each season, lead his team to a Super Bowl win and reap the rewards that come with that success.

As Manning told Netflix: “Mahomes balled out.

Kirk had a good year.

Marcus is going to be back.”

Quarterback documents the physical demands on the players throughout their 2022 season.

Cousins is 34, and has taken his fair share of hits over his 11-year professional career.

He employs a chiropractor and masseuse to manage joint and soft tissue damage.

Mahomes works out with his own personal trainer outside of team practices, while Mariota employs a private chef to manage his nutrition at home. 

It takes more than a great arm to make a quarterback.

The position demands intense mental preparation each week, reviewing game film and studying massive game plans with highly specific strategies.

“When you finish high school and you finish college you kind of say, ‘Okay, now no more homework,’ ” Manning told Netflix.

“And for a quarterback, the homework is just beginning.

You have to know not just your assignment, [but] 10 other guys’ assignments as well.”

In Quarterback, Mahomes takes us inside the process of studying game film of not only his own performances, but also of his opponents.

Mariota enlists the help of his wife to help him memorize wordy play calls, while Cousins uses neurofeedback exercises to train his brain to stay focused during stressful situations — such as having to deliver a pinpoint pass when he’s about to be tackled by a massive defender. 

If quarterbacks can handle the mental and physical workload that comes with the job, the benefits are unmatched.

As the star attractions in a multibillion dollar industry, the most valuable quarterbacks earn around $50 million a year: Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million contract with the Chiefs is the biggest in NFL history (though as is common in NFL contracts, much of that sum is not guaranteed, but will be paid in the form of bonuses contingent on Mahomes staying on the Chiefs’ roster).

Cousins earned $40 million during the 2022 season with the Vikings, and Mariota made roughly $9 million after serving as a backup the previous two years.

And, because quarterbacks are so prominent, the most successful and personable ones can rake in millions more from endorsements.

Episodes of the Quarterback on Netflix

Episodes of the Quarterback on Netflix, Episode 1: The Quest
The new face of the NFL, Mahomes faces the high expectations of getting the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl after falling short in 2021.

Cousins must adapt to a new coaching staff and offensive scheme in Minnesota after his first four seasons with the Vikings yielded just one playoff appearance.

Mariota joins a new team in Atlanta after spending several years as a backup elsewhere, and battles for the starting job with rookie Desmond Ridder.

Watch Quarterback on Netflix, Episode 2: Homecoming
The quarterbacks reflect on the winding paths that led them to the NFL.

Cousins returns to Washington to play against his former team in an emotional matchup against the Commanders.

Episodes of the Quarterback on Netflix, Episode 3: Kings of Pain
The quarterbacks’ physical limits are tested, and each implements unique methods to endure the pain of the long season as bruises and bumps start to pile up.

One player’s physical pain starts to affect his mental decisions on the field.

Watch Quarterback on Netflix, Episode 4: Mind Games
The quarterbacks dive into the demanding mental side of the game, including the intense weekly preparation for different opponents.

Episodes of the Quarterback on Netflix, Episode 5: Football Is Life
As the wives of two of the quarterbacks prepare to imminently give birth, the players balance their demanding home lives with their football responsibilities as the regular season enters the crucial home stretch.

Mariota’s hold on the Falcons starting job begins to slip as Atlanta endures a debilitating losing streak, while Cousins tries to shake the narrative that he doesn’t perform well in prime-time games.

Watch Quarterback on Netflix, Episode 6: Under Pressure
Mariota steps away from the Falcons after he’s demoted from the starting quarterback job the same week his wife gives birth to their first child, electing to undergo knee surgery for a nagging injury and spend more time with his newly expanded family.

Mahomes confronts a rivalry matchup against up-and-coming star Joe Burrow and the Bengals, who beat the Chiefs in the previous year’s AFC Championship.

Cousins orchestrates the biggest comeback in NFL history.

Episodes of the Quarterback on Netflix, Episode 7: Win or Go Home
It’s playoff time. Cousins leads the Vikings into their home game against the New York Giants in what would be the biggest win or most disappointing loss of his career.

Mahomes suffers an ankle injury during the Chiefs’ matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars and gets into an argument with his coaches to remain on the field despite the fact that he’s clearly been hurt.

Watch Quarterback on Netflix, Episode 8: The Final Chapter
Mahomes, still recovering from an ankle injury, exacts revenge upon Burrow and the Bengals in an instant classic AFC Championship to advance to the Super Bowl.

In the week leading up to the game, Cousins gets out of his comfort zone at the NFL Honors ceremony, where Mahomes wins the league’s MVP award and Cousins receives the Bart Starr Award.

Then the Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles in what turns out to be an epic Super Bowl LVII.