Earlier in the week, Netflix premiered the sports documentary Receiver, which is produced by NFL Films, Omaha Productions and 2PM Productions. The series functions as a sequel to Quarterback, which featured Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota and followed them throughout the season both on and off the gridiron. Five receivers took part in this year’s series, including Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. Peyton Manning, the founder of Omaha Productions, recently discussed the idea behind the series and its conceptualization during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC.
Manning emphasized how he feels that the show was not a distraction, something proven by the success these players experienced throughout last season. Kittle and Samuel in particular played in Super Bowl LVIII from Las Vegas as members of the San Francisco 49ers. The series provides viewers with a look behind the scenes as to the difficulty and skill required to play the position, along with the training regimen and work-life balance.
“We’re just trying to show people how hard it is to play receiver in the NFL, how hard they practice, how much film they study, just as much as the quarterback,” Manning said. “They get hit hard across the middle and they pop right back up and go back and play the next play, so I think people will find it fascinating. I’ve always had a great appreciation for all the receivers that I played with. I’m not sure all the viewers know just how hard it is and what it takes.”
Kathryn Hahn, who was guest hosting the late-night program, conveyed that these documentaries allow for consumers to become invested in the players in a new way. Manning concurred with this sentiment, explaining how the series is able to somewhat overcome the limitations within the game of football.
“In other things, you can kind of go behind the ropes and be close to them, but you can’t have a 12th person in the huddle on the football field – they don’t allow that; you only can have 11 out there – and so this is kind of what we’re trying to do is to bring the viewer right there where they’re on the field,” Manning said. “They’re on the sidelines, they’re in the training room with them recovering after a physical game icing their legs in the cold tub; whatever it may be. I find it fascinating just watching it, and I know what it’s like.”
Hahn finds that she has been invested in the series and informed the audience that she thinks they will really love watching it. Convincing the players to take part in such a project came in capturing the quotidian nature of the job for posterity to see. Additionally, the success that the players spotlighted in Quarterback were able to attain, highlighted by Mahomes winning Super Bowl LVII and the league MVP award, was also a selling point.
“We did a similar show with Caitlin Clark and Kamilla Cardoso, [and] both of them went to the National Championship,” Manning said, “so I think when you do a show like that and people say, ‘Wow, it’s not a distraction. You can still have a great year and document what I do behind the scenes.’”
Omaha Productions agreed to a nine-year deal with ESPN to produce programming for the network through 2034. The agreement includes the continuation of Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, colloquially known as the ManningCast, which is entering its fourth season as the alternate broadcast for the property. Other Omaha Productions programming, including the Places series, along with collaboration across multiple platforms, is part of the agreement as well. The Omaha Audio Network also produces podcasts for ESPN, including The Mina Kimes Show Featuring Lenny, SVPod and This is Football with Kevin Clark.
