NFL reportedly struggling to find a team for HBO's 'Hard Knocks'

HBO’s Hard Knocks, the NFL‘s most behind-the-scenes look at teams in the preseason, is reportedly having a hard time finding a team to follow this year.

With just over a month to go before training camp begins, the show has yet to announce which team gets the spotlight this year.

Last year, Hard Knocks followed Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions’ journey to the kick-off of the regular season.

There are only so many NFL franchises to choose from. The guidelines in previous years stipulate that a team with a new head coach, a playoff berth in the previous two seasons or an appearance on the show in the last decade would be exempt from participating.

Any team that does not fall under one of those three categories could be forced to bring in the HBO camera crews.

Based on those guidelines, there are just four teams that Hard Knocks could follow, unless there’s another volunteer. The New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders are the only four teams that don’t have any excuse not to be on the show.

Jets in consideration for Hard Knocks

With former NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers now on the Jets, the team becomes the most intriguing option for HBO, if they can make it happen. Jets team owner Woody Johnson told reporters that they’d have to “take a hard look” at going on Hard Knocks this season.

The Jets have good reason to want a reprieve from being on the show this year. They’ve already been through the media circus throughout the Rodgers trade discussions.

Like the Jets, the Chicago Bears seem to be on an upwards trajectory. According to The Athletic, Bears chairman George McCaskey is against putting his team in front of the cameras.

“We feel there are a number of teams that have compelling stories to tell on ‘Hard Knocks,’” McCaskey said, clarifying that he means 31 other teams besides the Bears.

Players sounded off on the topic last month with both Jets and Commanders players professing their hope that the show looks elsewhere.

The Saints, coming off of a 7-10 finish in head coach Dennis Allen’s first year in charge, have yet to address whether or not they’d like to be on Hard Knocks.

In the past, Hard Knocks has followed 16 of the NFL’s 32 teams. The Commanders have never been on the show, neither have the Saints or Bears. The Jets were last featured in 2010.