After recent editions of Hard Knocks have embarrassed teams like the New York Giants, it sure seems like NFL organizations are more reluctant than ever to jump onto any variation of the famed pro football documentary series. It doesn't feel like it's worth the possible PR trouble. The NFL understands this dynamic all too well, and it isn't interested in entertaining teams finding creative excuses to stay off the program anymore.
As a result, the league will unsurprisingly loosen restrictions for the training camp edition of Hard Knocks moving forward in order to widen the pool of potential teams that could be featured on the show.
The one key change that will allow us a conceivable inside look at some of the NFL's finest teams?
Squads who have recently made the playoffs (in the last two years) are now eligible to be put on Hard Knocks. Previously, if you were a perennial NFL postseason contender, your continual qualification for sudden-death January football more or less meant you were exempt from having camera crews follow your coaches and players around for all of training camp. That's up to 14 teams out of the picture, dearest readers.
But no more! If they were actively trying to avoid Hard Knocks, this is obviously bad news for franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. That is, unless they get featured on the in-season edition of the show, which is arguably even more invasive for those who want no part in this hoopla.
Hard Knocks has loosened its rules on which teams can be forced into the Training Camp edition.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 3, 2025
The new rules for who CAN'T be forced to participate:
— Teams with a first-year head coach
— Teams featured in that season’s in-season edition (covering a full division)
— Teams on… pic.twitter.com/InF6x6u5VU
It remains to be seen how effective the NFL's parameters will be in pushing more teams onto Hard Knocks.
Traditionally, the training camp version of Hard Knocks has been more of a conduit for squads viewed as up-and-coming or newly "hot" after years of irrelevance. The 2022 Detroit Lions, 2023 New York Jets, and 2024 Chicago Bears all come to mind in this regard. It's likely easier to get these kinds of squads onto the show, given that they haven't accomplished anything at the time of filming and that they almost welcome the additional attention.
Opening the door to playoff teams changes the equation altogether.
Will Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid really want even more spotlight on the Chiefs? Are Josh Allen's Bills going to ...
