Chicago Bears to be featured on Hard Knocks in 2024

The Chicago Bears have been selected by NFL Films to serve as this year’s team on Hard Knocks, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed on Thursday.

The first episode will air on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

NFL insider Ari Meirov revealed that there will be three different versions of Hard Knocks during the 2024-25 season. First, the New York Giants will be featured during their free agency and NFL Draft portion of the offseason. This will reportedly begin on July 2.

Then, the Bears will be given the spotlight during the preseason. Finally, another in-season version of the show will air — and for the first time will follow all four teams in a division. It’s unclear which division the show will follow.

For the Bears, however, that means the Caleb Williams era will begin with the lights on bright and the cameras rolling as he adjusts to the NFL and his new team.

Ever since it was clear that the Bears would be drafting Williams, they’ve been doing all they can to help him succeed. Adding to what they have in place with wideout D.J. Moore and tight end Cole Kmet, the Bears went and signed both running back D’Andre Swift and acquired receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this offseason.

Moore, who recorded a career high 1,364 yards in his first season with the Bears last season, has been working with Williams 1-on-1 ever since he’s been in Chicago.

“Anticipation is there,” Moore said of Williams, via NBC Sports Chicago. “You can tell that he’s expecting us to be open at a certain time. That’s gonna be one of the things that’s better. Just gotta be on the same page with him going forward. It’s just gonna take some time. Maybe it’s gonna be fast, or it might take some time. But I’m hoping it’s fast.”

Chicago also selected former Washington receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick alongside Williams, who are expected to get to know each other very quickly in Chicago.

Williams wrapped up his collegiate career having thrown for 10,082 yards, 93 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on 66.9% passing across one season at Oklahoma and two at USC. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 after throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns and rushing for 382 yards and 10 scores. If one thing is for sure — he’s succeeded everywhere he has gone. For the Bears, that expectation remains the same as Williams begins his rookie offseason.