Detroit Lions star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown gave fans an inside look at reality TV production and the new Netflix series, Receiver.
The NFL Films production follows five NFL pass catchers throughout the 2023 season: Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, his teammate, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and St. Brown.
The new series follows a similar NFL Films project titled “Quarterback,” which offered a behind-the-scenes look at quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes II.
The Receiver promises the same access, but as St. Brown explained, the production never felt too intrusive.
“It was actually easy,” he said on a recent episode of his podcast. “It wasn’t too invasive. They did a great job of making everything perfect. They would mic me up once a week to practice. I think they would mic me up every Wednesday because that’s the biggest practice day in the NFL. Tuesday is off and Wednesday is the biggest work day.
Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown gave fans an inside look at the new Netflix series Receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson, Devante Adams and George Kittle attend the Los Angeles premiere
“They’d put a microphone on me on Wednesdays and the camera crew would be there for practice. And then they’d put a microphone on me on game days, every game day. The camera crew would be there.”
As St. Brown explained, the images offer great insight into “what we do in the field.”
“You’ll understand how much it takes to prepare and actually play,” he said.
But perhaps the most memorable aspect of the show focuses on the players’ lives off the field: “The kind of people we are, our family. What motivates us.”
St. Brown admits he hasn’t seen the entire series yet, but he’s confident in his approach because it encapsulates both ends of the NFL spectrum.
Amon-Ra St. Brown warms up before the NFC title game against the San Francisco 49ers
“I’ve only seen parts of it,” said St. Brown, who is coming off a historic NFC Championship Game appearance with the Lions. “So I’m excited to see the whole thing in its entirety with all the athletes. I was just talking to Davante. I feel like everyone’s story is different. The outcome of everyone’s season, obviously with the Raiders, probably didn’t go the way he wanted it to. Justin Jefferson got hurt. The Niners go all the way to the Super Bowl and don’t win. We’re getting close.
“So everyone’s story is different,” he continued. “Everyone’s background is different.”
As for his favorite part of the series, St. Brown hesitated before settling on the episode “where we play the Rams.”
“I dyed my hair blue,” she said. “Make sure you tune in for that episode. It’s legendary.”
The Lions hosted the Rams in the first round of the NFC playoffs, where St. Brown embarrassed the LA secondary with 110 yards on seven receptions.
The Receiver is currently available on Netflix.