The NFL season’s just around the corner, but we understand if you’re sick of endless training camp updates and divisional previews. If you’re looking for something different to get your football fill, check out our NFL-related documentary recs. We handpicked five films from the NFL Films, HBO Sports, and ESPN Films libraries to hold you over until the next game day.
5. Quarterback
Netflix’s hit documentary series chronicled the 2022 NFL season for three quarterbacks in very different career spots: Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota. While it’s not immune to the type of no-warts-slickness you see in sports docs these days—Mariota’s midseason benching is briefly addressed and quickly put aside—it’s still an interesting behind-the-scenes peek into the life of a star NFL quarterback.
4. Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching
New England’s Bill Belichick and Alabama’s Nick Saban have a lot in common: they’re two coaches with legendary resumes and an equally legendary reticence for talking about themselves. This doc highlights the relationship between both coaches, which stretches back to the early ’80s. Come for the chance to hear both coaches talk shop, and stay for the footage of Saban sporting excellent ’80s dad fits.
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3. A Football Life: Vince Lombardi
NFL Films’ long-running docuseries is a great way to kill an afternoon, especially if you pick a name you recognize and go from there (as with Bill Walsh, James Harrison, or Lawrence Taylor’s episodes). This episode focuses on the life of the Packers’ legendary head coach and his accomplishments in the league.
2. Vick
Michael Vick’s known for two things: his field-bending achievements as a quarterback and his prison sentence for a dogfighting scandal. 30 for 30’s 2020 doc doesn’t shy away from either part of Vick’s career, which makes it an especially great watch.
1. The Tuck Rule
2001’s AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots hinged on a controversial call known as the Tuck Rule, which reversed Charles Woodson’s fumble against Tom Brady and helped kick off the 2000s Patriots dynasty. This ESPN 30 for 30 doc reexamines the game. It also features this discussion between Brady and Woodson that somehow didn’t end with Woodson strangling Brady The Simpsons-style.
Eric Chiu is a CableTV.com internet editor who covers internet tech, entertainment, and sports news. He’s written about consumer technology for nearly a decade for outlets including CNN Underscored, Wirecutter, Newsweek Media Group and TopTenReviews/Future. In his free time, he enjoys playing any instrument he can find, rooting for the Michigan Wolverines, and hunting for the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
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