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Report: Bill Belichick, North Carolina won't participate in 'Hard Knocks' after deal falls through

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•03/04/25•

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Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Bill Belichick and North Carolina will not participate in the offseason version of HBO’s Hard Knocks after the deal fell through, according to CBS Sports‘ Jonathan Jones.

“NFL Films had discussions with Coach Belichick and UNC about appearing on Hard Knocks this offseason but couldn’t reach an agreement,” a spokesperson for NFL Media said, via CBS.

According to Jones, creative control was at the center of the sides being unable to reach an agreement on Hard Knocks. UNC was the pick for the second season of the show after the New York Giants were featured in the first offseason series.

However, no NFL team elected to participate for the next edition, causing HBO to turn to college football.

“Sources told CBS Sports there is still a desire within the UNC football program to do some sort of all-access, behind-the-scenes series with some media group,” Jones wrote. “But one source questioned why UNC wouldn’t want the prestige and reach of HBO and NFL Films, the latter of which has worked with Belichick for decades.

“Sources at UNC had spotted NFL Films employees in the facility in recent weeks, and there was excitement across the football program and university about the exposure Belichick’s team would receive from the series.”

UNC, ‘Hard Knocks’ can’t come to agreement

North Carolina and Belichick will begin spring practice Tuesday, but without any Hard Knocks cameras.

Hard Knocks has aired nearly two decades worth of seasons since 2001 from those at NFL Films and HBO. The award-winning show documents a selected franchise coming through training camp and into the upcoming season in the National Football League.

Over half of the league has been on the show in that time with the Ravens, Cowboys, Chiefs, Bengals, Jets, Dolphins, Falcons, Texans, Rams, Buccaneers, Browns, Raiders, Chargers, Lions, Giants, and Bears. The show had also recently done an in-season edition since 2021 with the Colts, Cardinals, Dolphins, and the entirety of one season spent on the AFC North.

One team that didn’t ever make that list, though, was the New England Patriots, with the show spanning the entire tenure of none other than Belichick.