4 Takeaways from Netflix’s “Quarterback” Series Featuring Vikings QB Kirk Cousins
Josh Frey
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Last week, the media giant Netflix released their much-anticipated 8-part series, Quarterback, produced by Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, that followed three NFL QBs throughout the 2022 season. Those three quarterbacks were Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Marcus Mariota of the Atlanta Falcons, and Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings.
The series proved to be a massive hit, and it has already been re-upped for another season next year. Today, we’re going to discuss some of the biggest takeaways from the exclusive look into the lives of NFL quarterbacks.
Kirk Cousins’ Most Underrated Trait Shines Bright
Kirk Cousins is a player who gets a ton of scrutiny every time he steps onto an NFL field. Folks question whether or not he has that “it” factor to compete at a championship level, but Quarterback shines brightly on his most underrated trait: his toughness.
Cousins was hit a total of 84 times during the 2022 season, and the series showcases many of the brutal hits that he took throughout the year, even hinting at a rib injury that he played through for most of the year. Even still, the QB never missed a game and was one of the clutchest players in the league. The fact that the Vikings QB continues playing through all the bumps and bruises is something that should be appreciated.
The Reason Marcus Mariota Left the Falcons Mid-Season
Last year, Marcus Mariota left the Atlanta Falcons midseason following the team’s decision to start Desmond Ridder. Many were critical of this decision for a veteran to leave the team while they were trying to establish their rookie QB, and Quarterback did not shy away from discussing the topic.
In the fourth episode of the series, it was revealed that Mariota and his wife had a child just days before the decision to start Ridder was announced, and the QB opted to get knee surgery to repair a meniscus injury that occurred during the season. Head coach Arthur Smith was shocked to hear about the surgery, but gave him his blessing moving forward.
“I love Marcus,” Smith said. “[I’m] thankful that I got to spend more time with him. People look at [football players], and they think they’re robots. They wear a helmet, that they’re these modern-day gladiators, but there’s life outside this building. He gave us everything he had.”
Patrick Mahomes Is a Different Type of Beast
This is probably a “duh” takeaway from the series, but Patrick Mahomes showed all season why he is the best quarterback in the NFL. Not only does the guy have incredible arm talent, but he is gritty as all get out. The series showcases his extreme work ethic throughout the season in his training, but the biggest takeaway is from the playoffs when he suffered his high ankle sprain.
Usually, it is an injury that takes anywhere from 6-8 weeks to completely heal. Mahomes took one series off before getting back on the field, hobbling around to dodge incredible pass-rushers from the Jaguars, Bengals, and Eagles en route to his second Super Bowl victory.
Cousins Has a Shelf Reserved for a Lombardi Trophy
The Vikings playoff game against the New York Giants is a main focus of the seventh episode in the series, and we got an opportunity to see the full emotion and disappointment of Cousins following the loss.
At the end of the day, the Vikings quarterback wants to win, and you can see through the episode that Minnesota’s premature exit from the playoffs didn’t sit right with him. “It doesn’t feel like it should be over,” Cousins says, reflecting on the loss.
However, Cousins sees brighter days ahead. The series showcases a “memory room” in his home, displaying all of his personal accolades over the course of his football career. In that room, there is a shelf reserved for a Lombardi Trophy. Hopefully, he will be able to fill that shelf with the Vikings in the near future.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.