The 4 NFL teams eligible for ‘Hard Knocks’ (including the Bears!), ranked

A breakdown of the best (and only) options for HBO’s annual inside look at an NFL training camp.

By now, HBO’s NFL training camp show Hard Knocks has become a staple of sports programming every late summer. In 2022, we were delighted to watch Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions prepare for their season with more than a few noteworthy moments that would’ve otherwise been under wraps without a TV camera present.

With the 2022 regular season over, there will be just four eligible teams for the next in-depth look at how an NFL squad takes its final steps before a new campaign. To qualify for the next edition of Hard Knocks, an NFL team must not have made the postseason for two straight seasons. They must have a coach who is in his second year on the job, at least. And they haven’t participated in the program in a decade.

The only teams who meet those qualifications in 2023 are as follows:

  • Chicago Bears
  • New Orleans Saints
  • Washington Commanders
  • New York Jets

Let’s rank the eligible NFL squads for the next edition of Hard Knocks based on entertainment factors and which franchise would be most intriguing to learn about in the summer.