WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Receiver.
Summary
The new NFL docuseriesReceiverfocuses onfour of the top-performing wide receivers, and one tight end, of the 2023-2024 NFL season. As a sort of spin-off toNetflix’s popularQuarterbackseriesthat premiered in July 2023,Receiverfollows a similar format in depicting many behind-the-scenes details of some of the NFL’s most notable stars throughout the course of an entire season.Quarterbackwas produced by NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and featured extensive coverage on former Atlanta Hawks quarterback Marcus Mariota, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, and 3-timeSuper Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.
Manning and Mahomes both returned as producers ofReceiverbut are hardly featured in the series given the shift in positional focus fromQuarterback. Rather than spotlighting only threeNFL players like inQuarterback,Receiverfollows five NFL wideouts across four different franchises. They include Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, and Deebo Samuel and George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers. The series provides in-depth footage of various triumphs, losses, and injuries on the field combined with practices, training, and family life off the field.
The series also features additional commentary fromNFL players such as Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, Kirk Cousins, Maxx Crosby, and NFL coaches Kyle Shanahan, Dan Campbell, and Antonio Pierce. The creative choice inReceiverto narrow in on both Samuel and Kittle worked out perfectly as the 49ers faced the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. One of the most charming aspects of the new Netflix series is getting to see how each NFL superstar interacts with their family members, young and old. Several of those in focus are fathers themselves and/or were raised by exceptional parents, showcasing both the disciplinary and human sides of these athletes like never before.
He was eventually selected in the 4th round by the Lions
Amon-Ra St. Brown, whose father was twice named Mr. Universe, had a sharp desire to succeed at a young age. He recalls how he felt during the 2021 NFL Draft inReceiver, saying it was difficult to sit through the first several rounds before he was eventually drafted by the Lions in the fourth round. In the first episode of Receiver titled “Great Expectations: Part 1”,St. Brown lists all sixteen of the wide receivers in order that were selected ahead of him in the draft. He carries a handwritten list of all these receivers with him and reads it before every practice and NFL game for motivation. It reminds him of a time before his NFL stardom when he believed many people were unsure of his ability.
9Davante Adams “Signed Off” On Benching Jimmy Garappolo For Rookie QB Aidan O’Connell
Receiver depicts how Adams' frustration grew under Josh McDaniels' leadership
Davante’s frustration with how the first half of the Raiders' 2023 season was going was no surprise to the media. In fact, he was very vocal about his dissatisfaction with teh direction of the team, particularlythe lack of targets he was getting under the leadership of head coach Josh McDanielsand new quarterback Jimmy Garappolo. Adams had a solid relationship with former Raiders QB Derek Carr during the 2022 based on their history at Fresno State.
Receiversheds more light on how Adams wasn’t a fan of the decision to move on from Carr and admits that he “signed off” on the decision to bench Jimmy G for rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell. After McDaniels was shockingly fired, new head coach Antonio Pierce stepped in, whichAdams confirms was a crucial and necessary change for him to stay committed to the Raiders.
Adams also revealed that McDaniels wasn’t fired because the team didn’t like him, but the organization needed something different.
8Justin Jefferson Was Coughing Up Blood On The Sidelines After Taking A Big Hit Versus The Raiders
The star wideout was plagued by injuries during the 2023 season
Receiverchronicles just how many injuries occur throughout the NFL season, many of which are not specifically discussed with the press unless a player is given an injury designation of “questionable”, “doubtful”, or “out”. The docuseries reveals that Jefferson, one of the league’s most electrifying receivers who had already missed several games due to a hamstring injury, was coughing up blood on the sideline after taking a huge hit to the back in a late-season game against the Raiders.Jefferson ended up with a lung contusion that forced him to cough up blood. Fortunately, he had no broken ribs but was sidelined for the rest of the game.
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7Dan Campbell Admits That Going For It On 4th Down May Be A Coaching Flaw Of His
Campbell attests his belief in his team outweighs his fear of failure
Several NFL head coaches, including the charismatic and inspirational head coach of the Lions Dan Campbell, were interviewed inReceiver. The Lions' first playoff win in 32 years was certainly the highlight of their remarkable season but the way they got there – through risk-taking and sheer grit – also ended up essentially ending their long-awaited playoff run. InReceiverepisode 8 “Leaving Las Vegas”, which recapped the Lions' crushing 31-34 loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game,Campbell admits that it may be his “own flaw” that he has “so much faith and hope” in his teamto repeatedly make risky decisions on 4th down. Ultimately, after turning the ball over on downs twice in a row, the 49ers scored 20 unanswered points to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
6George Kittle’s Father Has Written Him A Pump-Up Letter Every Week Since College
Kittle reads the latest edition before each game
Viewers ofReceiverwho weren’t already familiar with the larger-than-life personality of George Kittle will also learn how wholesome his family life is, particularly his relationships with his parents and his wife, Claire. Kittle, who always remembers to have fun and avoid being a “stressball” on the field, reveals in the Netflix docuseries that his father, Bruce, started writing him weekly inspirational letters with pictures, quotations, and his own fatherly words of wisdom.It’s a tradition that Bruce never stopped doingeven as George started playing on the biggest stage. Kittle looks forward to his dad’s letters to this day and reads them before every game as an integral part of his routine.
5Amon-Ra St. Brown Was Furious About Not Being Selected For The 2024 Pro Bowl
St. Brown was snubbed after his 1500+ yard season
Those who were unaware of just how competitive Amon-Ra St. Brown was before watchingReceiverwill never doubt it again. When he’s not re-reading the list of 16 wide receivers selected before him in the 2021 NFL Draft or trash-talking his brother Equanimeous, a wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, on their shared podcast, St. Brown is fully committed to improving and being the best.St. Brown, who is also fluent in German and French, did little to hide the fact that he was absolutely livid when he was not selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl team after his 1500+ yard season. He was ultimately named an All-Pro by the Associated Press, which did offer him some marginal amount of relief.
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4Davante Adams Drew Inspiration From Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game” In Record-Breaking Win Over The Chargers
In one of the final games of the Raiders' 2023 season, Davante Adams caught the flu but never considered sitting out. Instead, Adams and his teammates drew inspiration from Michael Jordan’s famous “flu game” during the 1977 NBA Finals, during which the basketball legend scored a team-high 38 points in a Game 5 victory over the Utah Jazz. Although it was revealed later to be food poisoning that had MJ feeling ill, the impact of his “flu game” lives on today and inspired Adams and the Raiders to rack up 63 points against the Los Angeles Chargers,setting a new franchise record for most points scored in a single game.
3Justin Jefferson’s Mom Encouraged Him To Have A Touchdown Dance Which Led To “The Griddy” Going Viral
Jefferson made the local dance in Louisiana internationally known
Justin Jefferson is widely known for popularizing the viral dance “The Griddy” which became his signature touchdown celebration that was emulated by virtually every kid across America and many NFL players.Receiverreveals that back in college, Jefferson never used to have a touchdown celebration or dance, which inspiredhis mom to encourage him to do something and not be so “boring.“Having attended LSU in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, “The Griddy” was a local dance that Jefferson brought to the world stage as an accompaniment to his outstanding play. Jefferson, who recently signed a $140 million contract, has plenty to dance about so long as he and Kirk Cousins remain healthy.
2George Kittle Thought About Installing A Full-Sized WWE Ring In His Backyard In Nashville
Receiverproves that Kittle, whoonly wanted Legos and basketball sneakers for Christmas, is truly a kid at heart. A well-documented WWE superfan who has appeared on WWE Smackdown! and Wrestlemania, Kittle reveals that he was considering installing a true-to-size professional wrestling ring in his backyard at his residence in Nashville, Tennessee before wisely thinking against it. The docuseries shows that Kittle has put together makeshift wrestling rings in his backyard before but nothing like what the professionals use. Kittle laughs that he’s lucky he has his wife Claire to prevent him from actually going through with it.
1Amon-Ra St. Brown Played Through Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease In The Lions’ Monday Night Win Against The Raiders
As if anyone needed any more proof of Amon-Ra St. Brown’s toughness and work ethic, Receiver reveals what illness the star wideout had during the Lions' Monday Night Football game against the Raiders. St. Brown suddenly started to get red dots all over his face and body which eventually became painful blisters. He and his girlfriend Brooklyn Adams, who have been a couple since college, discovered that St. Brown had hand-foot-and-mouth disease, which is commonly diagnosed in children. It’s highly contagious, which is why St. Brown wore a face compression mask during the game.Receivershows St. Brown telling his teammates that the open wounds on his feet made it feel like he was walking on needles, but that didn’t stop him from going for 108 yards in the Lions' win over the Raiders.
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Receiver
Cast
Receivers offer unparalleled insight into the lives of some of the National Football League’s most elite wide receivers. The documentary series follows Davante Adams, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Amon-Ra St. Brown on and off the field throughout the 2023 NFL season.
