The Chicago Bears narrowly avoided Hard Knocks in 2023. Will that be the case in 2024? For the second year in a row, the Bears are one of a few teams in the NFL that can be forced to be the focus of the long-running HBO series Hard Knocks during training camp.
Hard Knocks follows one NFL team throughout their training camp, providing fans with glimpses into players and coaches journeys as they prepare for the upcoming season. Any team can volunteer to be featured, but certain teams can be forced to do it if there are no takers.
If a team has made the playoffs within the last two seasons, has hired a new coach, or has appeared on the show within the last 10 years, they are exempt from that year’s Hard Knocks. The New York Jets were featured last year after the NFL forced them to do it, having been one of four teams eligible. The Bears, New Orleans Saints, and Denver Broncos are the only teams that do not fit that criteria this year.
Three teams could be forced to do Hard Knocks next season if no teams volunteer:
– Chicago Bears
– Denver Broncos
– New Orleans Saints pic.twitter.com/1RO2qvP3wv— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 18, 2024
Halas Hall would make for an intriguing setting for next season’s series, given the possibility of having a rookie quarterback like Caleb Williams in the fold as well as boasting an ascending team, particularly on defense. But chairman George McCaskey has been adamant about not having the cameras around in past seasons, and his stance likely hasn’t changed. “We feel there are a number of teams that have compelling stories to tell on Hard Knocks,” McCaskey said during last year’s owners meetings. “31 others,” he clarified.
Time will tell if the league will respect his wishes, but the Bears may not be able to avoid the series this year.