Following the success of last year’s docuseries “Quarterback,” Netflix has introduced “Receiver,” which highlights those who catch passes in the NFL. Prominent San Francisco 49ers players, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, are featured throughout the series, which culminates in the team’s heart-wrenching loss in Super Bowl LVIII.
The series finale revisits the 49ers’ thrilling NFC Championship Game comeback against the Detroit Lions, where they overturned a 24-7 halftime deficit to win 34-31. Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, also featured in the series, had prematurely considered his team Super Bowl-bound, only to see the 49ers rally for victory.
Netflix captures the excitement of this comeback, securing the 49ers’ place in Super Bowl LVIII. Once in Las Vegas, “Receiver” delves into Super Bowl Opening Night, the 49ers’ practices at UNLV, and the climactic game at Allegiant Stadium.
The documentary provides an intimate look at the heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, showcasing never-before-seen game footage and insights from Kittle and Samuel. Both players sustained injuries during the Super Bowl—Samuel with a pulled hamstring and Kittle with a shoulder injury—yet fought to stay on the field.
Samuel, reflecting on his hamstring injury, said, “No way this is happening to me right now. I come out of the [medical] tent, I get to moving around, but this s–t just hurts.” Despite the pain, he was determined to continue, saying, “This is the last game of the year, and not too many people get this opportunity. Let’s just try to go out there and make the best out of it.”
Kittle, who injured his shoulder but remained in the game, shared, “Yes, I got hurt. I still felt like I was capable of doing my job, so I’m not going to leave the drive if I don’t have to.” Kittle briefly left the game but returned in overtime after receiving treatment.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, Patrick Mahomes once again led the Chiefs to a gut-wrenching victory, securing back-to-back championships. Reflecting on the loss, Samuel expressed his frustration: “As a kid, you’re just like, ‘Yo, I dreamed of playing in the Super Bowl.’ And once you get there, you like, ‘All right, I’m here.’ Then you get there again, you like, ‘All right, now, I ain’t losing twice.’ And then you lose again, you just like, ‘Bro, what the hell is it going to take for us to win one?'”
Kittle added, “To lose the second one, getting to that moment, not being able to get it done, just sucks. My dream is to win a Super Bowl, and I’m going to do everything I can to once again climb back up the mountain and take another shot at it.”
“Receiver” is now available on Netflix, featuring all eight episodes. The series also spotlights Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings. Additionally, it includes insights from head coach Kyle Shanahan on what makes Kittle and Samuel unique, and contributions from Kittle and quarterback Brock Purdy on Samuel’s importance to the offense.
