Following some of the NFL’s best pass catchers is a wild ride
Receiver is a Netflix Sports Series that follows some of the most notable pass catchers in the NFL. It’s a wonderful view into the personal and on-the-field lives of the Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams, Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown, and San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. Throughout the series, viewers meet the players’ families, wives, girlfriends, parents and children. The series shows the vibes and attitudes of players during the week, during the games, and during the offseason of a 2023 season that was chaotic, tumultuous, and uplifting.
The Detroit Lions, led by St. Brown and his quarterback, Jared Goff, were the most successful they had been in over 30 years. This team hadn’t won a playoff game since the early 1990’s and St. Brown and others led them all the way to one game short of the Super Bowl. (St. Brown was later rewarded with a life-altering contract, setting him and his family up for life.)
They met the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, including Swiss army knife Samuel who was fighting through injuries. Kittle brings his unique attitude to the series. Kittle is the sole tight end of the group. The others are all wide receivers. Kittle also has tattoos of Heath Ledger’s Joker, the first appearance of Venom in Marvel comics, and Hobbes from Calvin & Hobbes. He says, “Man, I love football” throughout the series.
Meanwhile, Adams is showcased during a season that saw the Raiders fire their coach and general manager. Interim coach Antonio Pierce changed the energy and the attitude in the room, but the Raiders fell short of the playoffs. Injuries to Jefferson and his quarterback, Kirk Cousins, similarly derailed the Vikings’ playoff hopes.
Choosing these players provides the series with some Tarantino-esque circular writing. Adams and Jefferson are notable names who will drive up the number of viewers and popularity. The unique St. Brown/Detroit situation is on a crash course with Samuel and Kittle who have reached the championship multiple times and the Super Bowl once. The finale’ of the eight episode series culminates in the head-to-head matchup of Detroit and San Francisco which features two of the best stories of the season.
Receiver is a follow-up to last season’s series that followed the league’s signal callers.The quarterbacks get enough coverage from the media and the endorsements. Receiver is a look into players that aren’t always the face of the franchise. (Ironically enough, ultimate spokesman Peyton Manning is an executive producer of this series.)
NFL players may be viewed only by what they do on the field, but watching Kittle’s relationship with his father and husband, Adams’ role as a dad, St. Brown’s childhood under a two-time Mr. Universe, or Jefferson dealing with injury adversity, Receiver is one hell of a watch. If viewers weren’t fans of these players before, they will be after watching the series.