Quarterback season 2: Everything we know so far

Netflix’s catalog of offerings continues to expand with each passing year as the streaming service works to find new ways of bringing in subscribers and keeping them entertained. In recent years, we’ve seen Netflix put a larger focus on sports entertainment which has led to some amazing sports docuseries including Quarterback. 

In its first show produced in partnership with the NFL, Netlfix provided fans with an intimate up-close look into the lives of three of the game’s current quarterbacks. Across the eight-episode season, fans followed Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcu Mariota across the 2022 NFL season.

Through the show, fans got to see the hard work that goes into playing the game’s most important position as the series welcomed audiences into the lives of these three elite players. The series has already become one of Netflix’s most successful sports docuseries and fans are excited to see what a second season will bring.

Fans are eager to see what’s to come in the show’s upcoming second season which should once again bring us an exciting look into the lives of some of the league’s biggest stars.

From release date speculation to predictions for who will be featured next season, here is everything we know so far about Quarterback season 2. Last Update: September 30, 2023.

Is Quarterback season 2 happening?

Although Netflix has yet to officially announce the renewal of Quarterback, executive producer and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning told The Pat McAfee Show (h/t via Deadline) that work has already begun on a second season of the show after Netflix gave it the green light.

"“Season 2 has been greenlit by Netflix, we’re excited, we’re hoping for more quarterbacks, it’s easier to say yes. I don’t want to hear ‘It’s going to be a distraction’ because that’s not true, Patrick Mahomes proved that, Kirk Cousins proved that, Marcus, the way he handled that, proved that. We’re hoping that guys after seeing it say this is going to be a cool thing that I can show to my kids when I’m older, show to my grandkids one day. Hopefully the pitch will be easier.”"

Quarterback season 2 release date predictions

The second season of Quarterback is not expected to arrive on Netflix until 2024, with Quarterback season 2 likely dropping in the summer. The show’s first season followed the three central quarterbacks across the entire NFL season which begins in September and wraps in early February. Assuming season 2 would follow the same production schedule, we expect the second season will follow the selected quarterbacks across the entire 2023 NFL season.

Because the show films across the full NFL season which will not conclude until February 2024, fans will have to be patient for the second season as there is likely to be a year between seasons.

If we had to guess, it seems most likely that Quarterback season 2 will arrive in July 2024 which would put the season during the NFL offseason once again. There is a chance that Netflix could try releasing the season earlier, but we can’t imagine the season would arrive anytime before May 2024 at the absolute earliest.

Will Patrick Mahomes be in Quarterback season 2?

While Netflix would likely love to have Patrick Mahomes back for another season of Quarterback, Mahomes will sadly not be returning for the show’s second season. In an interview with Audacy’s 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City, Mahomes revealed that he will not be coming back for the show’s upcoming season.

"“I’m not planning on doing this upcoming season. I’m going to try to let other people have a chance at it, but it’s definitely something I’m open to doing further down the line,” Mahomes shared. “I think it’d be out of what the show wants to entail in showing different perspectives if I did back-to-back years. We’ll let some other guys get out there and maybe later in my career I’ll hop back on there.”"

Given the extra press the Chiefs have been getting thanks to Taylor Swift’s relationship with star tight end Travis Kelce, we’re sure Netflix is definitely disappointed it won’t be getting to spotlight Mahomes again in season 2.

Will Kirk Cousins or Marcus Mariota return for Quarterback’s second season?

At this time, Netflix has not confirmed Kirk Cousins’ involvement in the second season of Quarterback but we’re not anticipating Cousins will be back in season 2. The beauty of the show’s first season is how it provides audiences with a fresh perspective on the game and its star position. Because of that, it seems likely season 2 will follow an entirely new group of quarterbacks. Still, there is a possibility that Cousins could appear in some form.

Given that Marcus Mariota will be a backup quarterback next season, it is highly unlikely we’ll see him be spotlighted in a key role next season. However, there is a chance he could appear in a lesser role as he’ll be playing backup for one of the game’s breakout stars: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Should Hurts be cast in season 2, there is a strong chance we’ll get to see more from Mariota which could present the opportunity for an interesting narrative of exploring the dynamic between a starting quarterback and their backup.

Peyton Manning is struggling to cast season 2

Despite the success of the first season of Quarterback, it seems that the show’s creator 2-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning is struggling to get current quarterbacks to sign on for the show. According to Manning, as he’s reached out to players vis his production company, he’s been met with a wave of no’s.

"“I’d love for someone to call us back and say, ‘I want to do it.’ I had three starting quarterbacks tell me no yesterday, so I’m swallowing my pride,” Manning told The Hollywood Reporter. “I think maybe some guys are thinking that it is going to be a distraction, even though I told a couple of them, ‘I guarantee you’ll win the Super Bowl like Mahomes if you do it.”"

Interestingly, the show was one that Manning attempted to get off the ground in the past but failed to do so due to a lack of interest from quarterbacks in the league.

"“I’ll be perfectly honest: We cast the net out to a lot of quarterbacks,” Manning said. “We tried to do it two years ago and couldn’t get anybody to say yes.”"

We’re sure the success of the show’s first season will entice some players to join the show, in fact there is at least one star quarterback who is rumored to have signed on to do the show already!

What Quarterbacks could be in Quarterback season 2?

It is expected that Quarterback season 2 will spotlight a new group of quarterbacks, meaning there are 30 potential teams that Netflix could look to choose from if the quarterbacks selected are once again starting quarterbacks. However, some quarterbacks have begun to rule themselves out of contention which has narrowed the list down. With that in mind, here is a list of possible starting quarterback contenders who might appear in Quarterback season 2:

• Desmond Ridder (Atlanta Falcons)
• Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)
• Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
• Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers)
• Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)
• Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos)
• Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
• Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
• C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans)
• Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts)
• Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)
• Mac Jones (New England Patriots)
• Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints)
• Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets)
• Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)
• Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans)

Joe Burrow turns down Quarterback season 2

At this time, it’s unclear whether Joe Burrow will be appearing in the second season of Quarterback. While Burrow has told media that he will not be appearing in the show’s second season, former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason has said Burrow will be part of the cast making it unclear whether or not Burrow has signed onto the show.

"“Maybe one year. I would like to do it maybe a couple years down the road, but I don’t think now’s the right time.” Burrow told reporters on July 26 via WCPO. “The process of doing that show is very intense. There’s a lot of time you have to put into that, time that I’m not ready to give right now. Everybody knows that I’m a very private person, especially in my personal life, and so that’s a window into a personal life that I’m not quite ready to share yet.”"

Shortly after, Burrow told reporters he had passed on appearing as part of the season 2 cast, Esiason told Fox 19’s Jared Goffinet, “It sounds like Joe Burrow is doing the Quarterback, by the way.”

Is Jalen Hurts going to be in Quarterback season 2?

Sadly, it does not appear that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will be starring in the second season of Quarterback. During the offseason, Hurts was asked about the possibility of appearing in season 2 to which he revealed he had passed on the opportunity to star in season 2. Oh, and he apparently also passed on season 1 too!

"“I actually turned it down last year. I didn’t feel it was appropriate for the year, so I turned down the opportunity to be on it. That time will come. There’s a lot of journey to be told and there’s a lot left to unfold that will be told one day. That time will come.”"

Lamar Jackson is focusing on football right now

Given how profile a player Lamar Jackson is, it should come as no surprise that Netflix extended an offer to Jackson to appear in season 2 of Quarterback. However, like many other players who have turned down the show, Jackson opted not to appear in season 2 due to his desire to focus on football.

Turning down the show makes sense given Jackson is officially returning to the team following an injury and a heated contract negotiation. After inking a new deal with the Ravens, it’s unsurprising that Jackson wants to avoid added attention as he looks to lead his team to the playoffs.

Jimmy Garoppolo says Quarterback is not for him

Many thought Jimmy Garoppolo would be a perfect selection for season 2 of Quarterback given he’s a high-profile quarterback who has moved to a new team this season. Unfortunately, it seems Garoppolo does not have an interest in doing the show.

While Garoppolo’s brothers enjoyed the show, the show is not for him.

"“They love it,” Garoppolo revealed via Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (h/t: NBC Sports). “I think they have a different perspective of what we go through. People just think you go out there on Sunday and start slinging it around. There’s a lot that goes into it. But that’s not for me.”"

Geno Smith says he is “not” doing Quarterback season 2

Sorry Seattle Seahawks fans, you won’t be seeing Geno Smith on the next season of Quarterback. When asked about whether he was going to be on the show, Smith put the rumors to bed quickly telling reporters, “No, I’m not.”

It’s actually a but surprising for Smith to turn the show away as it could bring him some great publicity and raise his star status even more in the league. After all, while he is a recognizable player he hasn’t exactly reached the same level of celebrity as say a Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes.

Is Matthew Stafford going to be in Quarterback season 2?

Fans of LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford might just see Stafford take on a starring role on Quarterback after all! After Stafford has passed on appearing in the show’s first season, initial reports indicated he had passed on the show when approached about season 2 with his wife even revealing on her podcast The Morning Show with Kelly Stafford, that the show simply isn’t his cup of tea.

"“Not my cup of tea because I don’t want to expose my girls in that way. But Quarterback is different. He didn’t do it for a couple reasons. He’s private, he also didn’t want to put his teammates through it. … He’s like ‘I don’t want my teammates to deal with cameras in the locker room. Here, there, whatever.’ Which I respect. I love that he thinks of those things.”"

However, Netflix must have made an offer too good for Stafford to refuse as it has since been reported by Turf Show Times that Stafford will in fact be a part of the season. This would be a major get for the show as Stafford is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback who is looking to lead his team to another Super Bowl this season. He’s also a veteran player in the league which could help him fill the role Kirk Cousins filled in season 1 as the season’s featured veteran QB.

Dak Prescott gets enough media, not interest in Quarterback

While Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has been approached to appear on Quarterback, apparently for both season and season 2, Prescott has no interest in appearing on the show. As he told the media in July, “I get enough media. This team gets enough coverage. It’s just not something I’m looking for.”

https://twitter.com/JeffJonesSports/status/1684737332325253120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1684737332325253120%7Ctwgr%5Eaf2d8b13fda8f2e7b2c24603f57ce02aedb1f28e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbssports.com%2Fnfl%2Fnews%2Flamar-jackson-dak-prescott-joe-burrow-among-signal-callers-to-pass-on-season-2-of-netflixs-quarterback%2F

It’s honestly a fair stance from Dak Prescott to pass on the show as he indeed gets a lot of media attention already, so not adding another spotlight to his life is absolutely understandable.

Josh Allen is open to appearing on Quarterback season 2

There is a possibility Josh Allen could appear as one of the stars of Quarterback season 2, as he’s been one of the few quarterbacks who have not turned down the show.

When speaking with the media on August 3, Allen revealed that he had spoken with season 1 star Patrick Mahomes about the show to get his feedback on the show. For Allen, the idea of being able to document your journey is something special, yet he does worry about the potential distraction it could cause. Still, unlike many other high-profile quarterbacks, Allen is open to the idea and remains undecided about appearing in season 2.

"“I talked to Pat [Mahomes] a little bit about it and I think it’s a really cool concept. I think that to have everything documented, especially as a quarterback, is very cool. You look at some of the documentaries that have come out in the past, you talk about the (Michael) Jordan documentary, but to have that documented, especially if you can win and win at a high level and continue to be a successful quarterback in this league to have that documented is super special,” Allen told the media at St. John Fisher University.“But at the same time I don’t want any outside distractions. I don’t want any unnecessary distractions for myself or this team. I’m not saying that it would be. I’m a little undecided on whether I would want to do it or not. I go back and forth sometimes in my mind, but as of right now I’m just trying to be the best quarterback for this team.”"

Justin Fields doesn’t intend to appear on Quarterback

If you’re hoping to see Justin Fields join the cast of Quarterback, we regret to inform you the Chicago Bears quarterback is not interested in appearing on the show.

“I don’t think I’m going to do it,” Fields revealed in a July 25 interview via Shaw Local.

Like many other quarterbacks, Fields has expressed concerns about the added attention the show will bring telling the press:

"“Just having cameras around the building, I think that might change the vibe of everyone. I just want to keep it natural and organic and really just focus on what’s going on in the building.”"

Tua Tagovailoa thinks Quaterback would show too much of his personal life

Although Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was approached by Netflix about appearing in the second season of Quarterback, he has no interest in appearing on the show.

For Tagovailoa, the show has too much “personal and family life” for his comfort level and he respects his privacy too much to open that part of his life up to the media.

Is Sam Howell going to be in Quarterback season 2?

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell will be making his debut as the team’s starting quarterback which is why he had no interest in doing the show. According to The Athletic, when asked about the prospect of appearing on the show, Howell said this was not the year for him to be a part of the cast.

Rather than focusing on the show, Howell is looking to learn the position and putting his starting job as the priority which is understandable given the pressure that comes from starting for a new team.

Trevor Lawrence was asked to be part of Quarterback season 2

Trevor Lawrence might be a prime candidate for Quarterback season 2, but it seems the Jacksonville Jaguars’ starting quarterback will not be appearing in the second season of Netflix’s hit series.

During the preseason, Lawrence revealed to the media that he had been approached about being a part of the show’s cast. However, like many quarterbacks in the league, Lawrence ultimately decided to pass on the show:

"“I was approached,” Lawrence told reporters in July. “I decided to not do it this year but that was just something where I feel like it was just not the right time for me. Who knows, maybe in the future. I watched the show though, the show was great, I think they did a great job. But yeah, that’s pretty much it there.”"

Daniel Jones enjoyed Quarterback but doesn’t want to be on the show

You can add Daniel Jones to the list of quarterbacks who have declined Netflix’s offer to appear on Quarterback. 

In an interview with during an interview with Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti, Jones praised the show while confirming he’s not going to be on the second season:

"“I’m not, I thought it was a great show,” Jones said. “I really enjoyed watching it and seeing those three guys, their process and how they prepare, each one a little bit different. I thought it was a great show.”"

Quarterback season 2 episode count

It is expected that season 2 of Quarterback will consist of eight episodes, which is the number of episodes the show’s first season featured. There is a chance that Netflix could order more episodes for the show’s second season following season 1’s success. However, Netflix tends to be very formulaic so we’re not anticipating the streaming service will drastically change the number of episodes given to the show in season 2.

When will Quarterback season 2 begin filming?

Given the 2023 NFL season began on September 7, production on Quarterback season 2 is rumored to have kicked off at the top of September or the end of August. Season 1 followed the featured quarterbacks across the full season with the show beginning with Week 1 action, so it’s likely Netflix will duplicate the formula for season 2 unless it opts to include coverage of the preseason as well.

Filming on the season will take place throughout the entire NFL season which comes to a close in early February 2024 when the top teams in the NFC and AFC face off in the Super Bowl. After the season is complete, it’s likely Netlfix will once again prep the season for a summer release which puts it out of competition with NFL staples such as the NFL Draft and Hard Knocks, HBO’s long-running NFL pre-season set series.