QUARTERBACK: Episode 3.1: “Face of the Franchise”
“A Deep Dive Into the Best Quarterbacks in the NFL”
What You Need To Know
Netflix’s QUARTERBACK returns for a third season with a smart, familiar formula: the show follows four NFL passers at wildly different career points throughout a full season. Episode 1, “Face of the Franchise,” sets the stage and showcases what the franchise has built its reputation on, even if it occasionally feels more like a highlight reel of introductions than a well-established story.
The episode delivers exactly what returning viewers expect: sleek NFL Films-style cinematography, mic’d-up sideline chatter, and remarkable access to the usually guarded pro locker rooms. The editing remains tight, though somewhat conventional. This show prioritizes friendly access over formal testing, a known trade-off rather than a surprising revelation.
The episode centers on Cam Ward, the Titans’ No. 1 overall pick. He steps into the NFL spotlight as a rookie, facing the expectations that come with that draft slot. The show captures the intensity of that transition. The shift from college star to face of a franchise occurs almost overnight, and the cameras show Ward visibly adjusting to a life where every rep receives scrutiny. This part offers the most compelling viewing because it remains unresolved. Unlike the veterans, Ward still grapples with his identity under pressure, and the audience shares this uncertainty.
Jayden Daniels, fresh off a stunning rookie campaign in Washington, emerges in a different light. The show portrays him not as a phenom proving himself but as a young leader settling into the responsibilities that come with real expectations. His calm demeanor contrasts with the typical dramatic energy in quarterback documentaries. This approach maintains a steady tension, though his segments carry less intensity than Ward’s.
Baker Mayfield, however, receives space to reflect. His segments trace a career filled with trades, benchings, and reinventions. The show positions him as the emotional piece, a quarterback who battles for every version of stability he finds. Whether this emotional depth pays off over the seven episodes remains uncertain, but this episode plants effective seeds, particularly in its comparison of Mayfield’s hard-won contentment with Ward’s anxiety.
Joe Flacco adds a welcome wrinkle with his presence as a 40-year-old veteran quarterback. He openly questions how much runway he has left. His dry, unsentimental humor cuts through the show’s occasional reverence, and his uncertainty regarding the future balances Ward’s excitement about what comes next. Both quarterbacks ask the same question, yet they stand at opposite ends of their careers.
The first episode of Season 3 of QUARTERBACK contains a strong biblical and Christian worldview with wholesome family and faith moments. Viewers see Mayfield describe feeling unconditional love and support from his wife, Daniels’ close bond with his mother, a mom-to-mom moment of support between players’ families, and Ward crediting his faith after hits to his chest and points skyward.
However, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for teenagers and adults due to strong foul language, crude gestures, alcohol, and bone-jarring football violence.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
A strong biblical and Christian worldview. A blend of faith and family values runs throughout, as players lean on their loved ones and their faith to get through the season; A football player feels unconditional love and support from his wife, a football player remains close with his mother, who also serves as his business manager and certified NFL agent, and hosts a community event at his former high school, where the stadium is named in his honor; A football player speaks about his faith and church involvement, hitting his chest and pointing to the sky in gratitude; one mom is shown publicly supporting another mom; however, this is paired with idolization of players and a football player taunting an opposing team by grabbing his crotch on the sideline
Foul Language
Strong foul language with 18 uses of the “F” word, 11 uses of the “S” word, 12 total profanities, and 3 uses of “Oh My God” as an obscenity:
Violence
Real, hard-hitting football violence throughout, with players delivering and absorbing forceful tackles and collisions, but no blood or gore is shown
Sex
No sex
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
Bud Light beer is visible in the background, though no one is shown actually drinking it
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drug abuse
Miscellaneous Immorality
A football player grabs his crotch while taunting an opposing team on the sideline, and an overall culture of idolizing players is present throughout.
