HBO’s iconic series Hard Knocks will be back this year with what could be one of the most intriguing seasons in recent memory. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL selected the New York Jets to be the focal point of the new episodes.
The Jets emerged as the favored pick due to their acquisition of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It will be the franchise’s second appearance on the show after being featured in 2010.
Hard Knocks is an Emmy-winning sports documentary series produced by NFL Films and HBO. Each season, the series focuses on one NFL franchise and follows their training camp. The only exception was in 2020 when Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams were featured. Since 2021, there has also been an in-season edition of Hard Knocks.
The NFL takes various criteria into consideration when selecting the participating team. Teams that were in the playoffs for the past two years, teams that have a first-year head coach, and teams that were featured in the past 10 seasons become ineligible.
This year, there were only four teams that met the eligibility criteria: the Chicago Bears, the New Orleans Saints, the Washington Commanders, and the New York Jets. But out of the four franchises, it was clear that the Jets would put on the best TV product, so the league’s decision to pick them isn’t surprising at all.
