Saagar Kote
Netflix’s ‘The Hawk’ is a comedy series created by Will Ferrell, Harper Steele, and Chris Henchy that follows Lonnie Hawkins, AKA The Hawk (Will Ferrell), a former golfing icon who refuses to accept that his glory days are behind him. Once the world’s top-ranked player, Lonnie has spent years chasing the US Open, which continues to elude him, keeping him from completing a Career Grand Slam. Despite an aging body, fading reputation, and constant pressure to walk away from the sport, he remains obsessed with proving he still belongs among golf’s elite.
His quest is complicated as his former wife, Stacy (Molly Shannon), is busy pursuing a new chapter in her own life, while his gifted son, Lance (Jimmy Tatro), has become one of golf’s brightest new stars. In his chaotic quest for glory, Lonnie also faces romantic tension with Stacy and professional rivalry with Lance, turning the journey into a wild ride. These shows, similar to ‘The Hawk,’ feature ambitious characters, unpredictable situations, and the chaos of sports.
12. Blue Mountain State (2010-2011)
Crafted by Chris Romano and Eric Falconer, ‘Blue Mountain State’ is set at the titular powerhouse college football program, where the game always comes before academics. The sitcom revolves around backup quarterback Alex Moran (Darin Brooks) and his best friend, team mascot Sammy Cacciatore (Chris Romano), who navigate a hedonistic lifestyle while also facing demanding coach Marty Daniels (Ed Marinaro). Alex discovers that surviving college football is just as challenging off the field as it is on it.
Together with the rest of the team, the two friends stumble from one outrageous situation to another while somehow continuing to play the sport well. Like ‘The Hawk,’ the narrative combines sports with comedy, utilizing eccentric characters and chaos in unpredictable ways. Both celebrate the unpredictable world of sports through rivalries and chaotic moments.
11. GLOW (2017-2019)
‘GLOW,’ from the minds of Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, is a comedy-drama series that follows Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie), an actress undergoing a career crisis. She lands an unexpected role in a new women’s professional wrestling show in 1980s LA. Hoping to turn her life around, Ruth throws herself into the opportunity, only to find herself sharing the spotlight with Debbie Eagan (Betty Gilpin), her former best friend and a retired actress chasing a comeback of her own.
They learn the ropes of sports entertainment, while clashing ambitions and personal relationships make their journey to success more difficult than they believed. ‘The Hawk’ and ‘GLOW’ use the world of sports to tell stories about people pursuing their ambitions. In the shows, characters chase another chance at success, while rivalries and personal relationships stand in the way.
10. Cobra Kai (2018-2025)
Guided by the vision of Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, ‘Cobra Kai’ continues the story of ‘The Karate Kid’ by bringing longtime rivals Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) back into each other’s lives. Hoping to turn his life around, Johnny reopens the Cobra Kai karate dojo, a decision that leads Daniel to revive his late mentor’s Miyagi-Do dojo. As old rivalries return, the two karate instructors find themselves competing on personal and professional fronts, and their ongoing feud shapes the lives of their students. Similar to ‘The Hawk,’ the sports comedy drama series follows former champions determined to prove they still have something left to offer. The narratives blend comedy with heartfelt drama, using sport as a medium to show that some battles often continue long after the glory days have passed.
9. The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (2021-2022)
‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ depicts the experiences of Evan Morrow (Brady Noon), a young hockey player whose dream is crushed when he is rejected by the Mighty Ducks, a tough, competitive team. Unwilling to accept defeat, Evan and his mother decide to build a new team for kids who have been overlooked. Their search for a coach leads them to Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), the original Ducks mentor, who has walked away from the sport and now spends his days running a small ice rink.
Gordon slowly rediscovers his passion for hockey, and the unlikely group comes together to challenge the sport’s culture. Steve Brill, Josh Goldsmith, and Cathy Yuspa are at the creative helm of this sports comedy-drama series based on the film ‘The Mighty Ducks.’ Both ‘The Hawk’ and ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ celebrate perseverance through comedy and shed light on determined characters who keep chasing their goals despite setbacks, proving that resilience and believing in oneself can matter more than reputation and success.
8. Coach (1989-1997)
‘Coach’ centers on Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson), the longtime head coach of Minnesota State University’s football team, where he spends time managing his eccentric assistant coaches and the pressures of college athletics. His unwavering commitment to football often clashes with his personal life, especially because his partner does not share his passion for the sport. Hayden rarely gets a moment to relax, even as his goal to win remains a driving force of his journey.
Facing both threats and opportunities, Hayden must find some balance. Brought to life by Barry Kemp, the sitcom reflects the essence of ‘The Hawk’ through its portrayal of what it means to dedicate your life to a sport, even when that passion complicates everything else. Both shows blend comedy with heartfelt moments, showing how ambitious sports personalities struggle to balance life beyond the game.
7. Ballers (2015-2019)
Created by Stephen Levinson, ‘Ballers’ follows former NFL star Spencer Strasmore (Dwayne Johnson) as he begins a new chapter in his life. Hoping to succeed as a financial manager in Miami, he starts working with current and former players under the guidance of his boss, Joe Krutel (Rob Corddry). As Spencer builds his client list, he finds himself helping athletes navigate the pressures of fame, money, and life beyond the game, all while trying to put his own future on the right track.
Along the lines of ‘The Hawk,’ the sports comedy-drama series looks at what happens when life in sports extends beyond the competition itself. Both series feature former athletes searching for purpose after their peak years, blending humor, personal struggles, and the realities of staying connected to the world that once defined them.
6. Ted Lasso (2020-)
‘Ted Lasso’ follows the titular character (Jason Sudeikis), an American football coach who is unexpectedly hired to manage AFC Richmond, an English soccer club, despite having no experience with the sport. While Ted adjusts to a new country and an unfamiliar game, his upbeat attitude helps him connect with his players and the people around the club, including team owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham). At the same time, he struggles with problems in his personal life, hoping to rebuild his relationship with his estranged wife while finding a new sense of purpose far from home.
Crafted by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, the comedy-drama series is inspired by fictional characters featured in NBC Sports’ coverage of England’s Premier League. Much like ‘The Hawk,’ the narrative features engaging character dynamics at its core and charismatic leads whose personal journeys unfold alongside the highs and lows of competition. Family bonds, evolving relationships, and the colorful personalities around the main characters add to the humor.
5. Shoresy (2022-)
‘Shoresy’ delves into the life of Shoresy (Jared Keeso), who joins the struggling Sudbury Bulldogs, a senior ice hockey team stuck at the bottom of the standings after a long losing streak. Determined to turn things around, he convinces general manager Nat (Tasya Teles) to let him take charge, promising that the Bulldogs will never lose again. With the help of coach Sanguinet (Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat) and a roster of new players, Shoresy sets out to rebuild the team, create a winning culture, and restore its pride through his unconventional leadership.
Created by Jared Keeso, it is a spin-off of the show ‘Letterkenny.’ Both ‘The Hawk’ and ‘Shoresy’ blend sports with offbeat comedy, centering on quirky lead characters determined to turn things around. The two shows balance fierce competitiveness with eccentric characters and humorous relationships that make the journey entertaining for viewers.
4. Big Shot (2021-2022)
The creative team of David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey, and Brad Garrett brings ‘Big Shot,’ which revolves around Marvyn Korn (John Stamos), a college basketball coach with anger issues. His career takes an unexpected turn after he is fired and is forced to start over. With not many options left, he accepts a coaching position at an elite girls’ high school in California. Used to a very different environment, Marvyn soon realizes that leading his new team requires far more than basketball knowledge.
While he learns to understand and support his players, he gradually evolves as a coach and a person, helping the team grow across various levels. The sports comedy-drama series captures the spirit of ‘The Hawk’ by depicting a sports veteran trying to make the most of an unexpected second chance. Both shows include humor and heartfelt moments as their central characters adjust to changing careers, shifting expectations, and new challenges.
3. Brockmire (2017-2020)
Based on a character developed by Hank Azaria, ‘Brockmire’ is a Joel Church-Cooper creation that sheds light on Jim Brockmire (Hank Azaria), a former Major League Baseball announcer whose career falls apart after an on-air meltdown triggered by his wife’s infidelity. The sitcom picks up years later, when Jim gets a chance to start over as the announcer for the struggling minor league team, the Morristown Frackers.
While trying to rebuild both his career and his personal life, Jim forms a complicated relationship with team owner Julia James (Amanda Peet), forcing him to confront his past mistakes as he searches for a fresh start. ‘The Hawk’ and ‘Brockmire’ find humor in the downfall and comeback of a previously respected and talented sports figure. The main characters in the shows are flawed but charismatic protagonists whose attempts to reclaim their place in the sports world lead to awkward situations and unlikely relationships.
2. Eastbound & Down (2009-2013)
‘Eastbound & Down’ centers on Kenny Powers (Danny McBride), a former Major League Baseball pitcher whose career is destroyed by his reckless behavior, substance abuse, and ego. With nowhere else to go, he returns to his hometown and takes a job as a physical education teacher at the middle school he once attended. Despite his fall from fame, Kenny refuses to accept that his playing days are over. He chases every opportunity to get back into professional baseball, but his arrogance and bad decisions repeatedly threaten to derail his dreams. Brought to life by Ben Best, Jody Hill, and Danny McBride, the comedy series uses the world of professional sports to deliver engaging, rib-tickling moments built around quirky personalities, like ‘The Hawk.’ The stories thrive on chaos, misunderstandings, and raw humor, which come alive in unexpected ways.
1. Stick (2025-)
Created by Jason Keller, ‘Stick‘ is a sports comedy series that chronicles the trials and tribulations of Pryce Cahill (Owen Wilson), a former professional golfer whose promising career ends after an angry incident on the course. Now washed up, he sees a chance to turn his life around when he discovers Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager), a gifted teenage golfer. Determined to help Santi reach the top, Pryce sets off on a cross-country journey with the young prodigy, his mother Elena Wheeler (Mariana Treviño), Mitts (Marc Maron), Pryce’s friend, and Christina Duffy, AKA Zero (Lilli Kay), Santi’s caddy.
Santi chases his dream of becoming a golf star, and Pryce hopes mentoring him will give his own life a fresh sense of purpose. However, the path towards redemption proves more difficult than imagined. The charm and competition of golf, the complexities of a second chance, the dynamics of eccentric personalities, and the idea of sporting greatness are common to both ‘Stick’ and ‘The Hawk,’ which also share a similar visual aesthetic.
Read More: Shows Like Stick
