10 Sports Documentary Shows To Watch After Netflix’s Quarterback
Given the number of stellar sports documentary series, fans of the genre have plenty of sports documentaries to watch after Netflix’s quarterfinals. The series follows three NFL quarterbacks — Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins and Atlanta Falcons’ Marcus Mariota — both on and off the field during the 2022 football season. The sports archives stand out for providing detailed information on the lives and families of the players.
A love letter to professional athletes’ dedication and passion, Netflix’s Quartet is nearly impossible to replicate. However, fans of the series (and non-athletes) can find similar works to shine in their own right by capturing both the physical and mental strain athletes go through. Instead of portraying star players as unrelated celebrities, the best sports documentaries focus on the humanity of professional athletes.
Hard Knocks
In the 17-season docuseries Hard Knocks, the camera follows an NFL team as they prepare for their upcoming season. Like Netflix’s Quarterback, Hard Knocks centers on football players and depicts the sorts of moments that aren’t found in game-day coverage. Whereas Quarterback shows the lives of quarterbacks on and off the field, Hard Knocks showcases players during practice, training camps, and during preseason match-ups. While the series’ most recent season features the New York Jets, viewers can catch all the best seasons of HBO’s Hard Knocks on Max.
Shaun White: The Last Run
Shaun White: The Last Run centers on Olympian and snowboarder Shaun White, who retired from the sport after the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The Last Run begins during his final showing, before diving back into his childhood and first forays into the world of competitive snowboarding world. Available to stream on Max, this limited docuseries is similar to Quarterback in that it focuses on an athlete at the top of his sport. However, White isn’t looking to carry on but end his career on a high note.
Breaking Point
Breaking Point offers a glimpse into the lives of tennis players who compete in tournaments around the world. Similar to Quarterback, this Netflix documentary series takes time on and off the court, but it also delves deeper into the mental health of iconic tennis stars. Like any high-profile sport, professional tennis comes at a price, and Breaking Point doesn’t shy away from the harsh truth. For starters, tennis players barely see their families, especially when traveling to far-flung tournaments, which is a stark contrast to the lives of NFL players in quarterback.
The Last Dance
ESPN’s original The Last Dance took the world by storm when it premiered in 2020, especially as live sports were suspended. Even with NBA games returning, documentaries about Michael Jordan’s 1997-98 season with the Chicago Bulls are still worth watching on Netflix. Jordan’s involvement in the project certainly impacts its honesty: the docuseries dismisses the star’s bad behavior with statements like, “Look, winning has a price. Leadership has a price.” Regardless of everything the Michael Jordan documentary leaves out, The Last Dance is a compelling look at one of the world’s most accomplished and memorable basketball players.
Welcome To Wrexham
Sports and pop culture fans should check out the documentary series Welcome to Wrexham after watching Netflix’s Fullback. In this ill-fated sports documentary series, actors Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) buy one of the oldest football clubs in the world, Wrexham AFC. Unfortunately, they have no experience in football or running a sports club. Unlike Quarterback, this documentary series showcases the managerial aspects of owning a professional sports team, making it a must-see for Disney Plus and Hulu subscribers.
Formula 1: Drive To Survive
Formula 1: Drive to Survive is a highly editorialized show about F1 racing. Many diehard fans, like Elizabeth Blackstock at Jalopnik, have criticized the series for taking liberties in an attempt to play up the interpersonal drama and minimize the sports’ scandals. Still, Drive to Survive is a good starting point for people who want to learn the basics of F1 racing. Unlike other sports docuseries, both Quarterback and Drive to Survive include behind-the-scenes footage of athletes in their spare time, making this Netflix watch a great follow-up.
Last Chance U: Basketball
In Last Chance U: Basketball, cameras follow the men’s basketball program at East Los Angeles College (ELAC). With the help of head coach John Mosley, the players pursue their dreams of playing basketball professionally or at Division I colleges. Wingers and Last Chance U: Basketball both focus on the hard work it takes to turn a good player into a great player. However, unlike the Wingers, this documentary series deals with athletes before they turned professional. Available to stream on Netflix, Last Chance U: Basketball features a number of players who have gone on to play basketball professionally, which makes the series even more enjoyable.
Full Swing
Full Swing follows the world of professional golf in 2022. For a sport that many overlook, Full Swing is perhaps the most impressive sports documentary. The producers never shy away from interpersonal rivalries, injuries, and the LIV-PGA Golf tension. Like Quarterback, Full Swing covers both new and well-established players. However, the show, which is available on Netflix, also turns an underrated sport into a compelling narrative and capitalizes on the quirky personalities of its players.
EmpowHER
EmpowHER follows a rather monumental event: in 2021, the New York Jets teamed up with Nike to sponsor the first-ever New Jersey girls’ high school flag football league. Much like Quarterback, EmpowHER focuses on a type of football, offering NFL fans something new to dig into. Unlike most sports docuseries, EmpowHER benefits from its short, easily-digestible episodes, which allow viewers to watch the show in 5- to 15-minute chunks on the New York Jets YouTube channel.
Defying Gravity: The Untold Story of Women’s Gymnastics
Available to stream on YouTube, the award-winning documentary series Defying Gravity: The Untold Story of Women’s Gymnastics examines all aspects of sport, from training to competing for a medal. Fans of the full, in-depth Midfielder approach will also enjoy this series. However, unlike other sports documentaries, Defying Gravity examines challenging subjects, including career-ending injuries and traumatic abuse. Considering many pro sports leagues attempt to cover up scandals, Defying Gravity is fresh in its honesty, even if it can be difficult to watch.