By Paul Salfen, Christine Thompson for AMFM Magazine
The new three-part docuseries The Object of the Game is now available on Prime Video, having premiered on February 4, 2026—just in time for Super Bowl week. This timely release captures the essence of football’s enduring values amid the sport’s biggest stage.
Featuring unprecedented insights from football heavyweights—including Bill Belichick, Tony Romo, Mike Tomlin, Urban Meyer, Sean McVay, Tony Dungy, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell—the series explores what the game truly demands, why it matters, and how its core principles of leadership, discipline, teamwork, and resilience are forged and passed down.
At the heart of the documentary is legendary high school coach Chuck “Chico” Kyle, whose 40-year tenure (10 as an assistant, 40 as head coach) at Cleveland’s Saint Ignatius High School built one of the most dominant programs in U.S. high school football history, with 11 Ohio state championships and multiple national titles. As an English teacher and coach, Kyle used the gridiron as a classroom to instill lifelong lessons far beyond wins and losses.
HOW TO WATCH OBJECT OF THE GAME, PRIME VIDEO
In a recent interview with Paul Salfen, Coach Kyle and director Matt Waldeck (a former Saint Ignatius player and filmmaker behind projects like I See You and Lovely Jackson) shared candid reflections on the project. Kyle emphasized football’s educational power: “The object of the game is to teach,” he said, noting that while few players reach the pros, the vast majority gain work ethic, teamwork, and mental fortitude that last a lifetime. He described pre-game speeches as building confidence and “metal” (mettle) to face challenges—on the field and in life—drawing parallels to literature’s vicarious lessons versus the real, physical, and spiritual tests of the game.
Waldeck, who approached the film objectively as a former player returning to document his coach’s final season, highlighted the program’s structured “dynastic run” and Kyle’s precisely articulated code of ethics—akin to a “Bushido” for modern life. He noted echoes of Kyle’s philosophy in comments from Belichick, Romo, Meyer, and Goodell. Waldeck stressed practical takeaways for coaches and players, including on-screen displays of practice schedules, and the importance of staying open to the story as it unfolds in verité style—especially with unpredictable live sports outcomes.
Both spoke of the filmmaking process as its own “Hail Mary,” requiring faith, doggedness, and willpower—lessons Kyle instilled in players like Waldeck. Kyle reflected on the joy of reunions where former players, decades later, revert to their high school camaraderie, underscoring lifelong bonds formed through the program.
The series blends intimate access to Kyle’s farewell season with high-level perspectives, reminding viewers of football’s roots amid the era of NIL deals and commercialization. As Waldeck noted, it’s about “the values that last when the bright lights fade” and the fundamental passion that draws people to the game.
A Zodiac Features production, executive produced by Ben Hecht, Travis Killian, and Blake Williams, The Object of the Game is directed by Matt Waldeck. Worldwide sales are handled by United Talent Agency and XYZ Films.
Stream it now on Prime Video and discover why Coach Chico Kyle’s legacy continues to inspire—from Cleveland’s fields to the NFL’s biggest stages.
