Hard Knocks is a reality sports documentary television series produced by NFL Films for HBO. First broadcast in 2001, the show typically follows a National Football League (NFL) team through its training camp and covers the team's preparation for the upcoming football season. Beginning in 2021, the show has also dedicated an additional season of television to following an additional team throughout the NFL regular season, followed by an additional season to follow another team through the NFL offseason starting in 2024.
The series depicts the personal and professional lives of players, coaches, and staff, including their family life, position battles, and even inside jokes and pranks. It particularly focuses on rookies' adjustments to playing in the NFL, usually with emphasis on the team's most recent top draft pick. It usually also chooses to focus on undrafted and journeyman players who are attempting to make the team.
The NFL and HBO have called Hard Knocks "the first sports-based reality series" in television history. The 20th season featured the New York Jets in their second appearance on the show, as well as the Miami Dolphins. In 2024, the series expanded to cover a team in the offseason (New York Giants), during training camp (Chicago Bears), and will feature an entire division during the regular season (AFC North).
Production
The series was created by Marty Callner in 2001. It has been narrated by Liev Schreiber since its inception, with the only exception being the 2007 season, which was narrated by Paul Rudd, a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, who appeared on the show that year.
The San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and Washington Redskins each declined to be the show's featured team for the 2013 season, while the Cincinnati Bengals accepted, marking their second appearance on the show. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell subsequently said that he wanted more teams to be featured on the series, on "some kind of formal rotation."
NFL Films announced on July 18, 2013, that it had signed a multiyear contract extension with HBO to continue producing the show.
In October 2013 the NFL announced that, in the absence of a team volunteering to participate in Hard Knocks, the league could force a team to participate. Teams are exempt from being forced to participate in three circumstances - if they have appeared in the past ten years, if they have a first-year head coach, or they reached the playoffs in either of the two preceding seasons. The first two teams to appear after this ruling were the Falcons and the Texans, appearing on the series in 2014 and 2015 respectively, after both teams declined to appear in 2013.
In September 2021, NFL Network announced that the Indianapolis Colts would become the subject of the first ever in-season edition of the series. The series premiered in November 2021 and would have carried on through the 2021–22 NFL playoffs, but the Colts did not qualify.
In May 2024, the NFL announced that the New York Giants would become the subject of the first-ever offseason edition of the series. The series would premiere in July 2024 and feature the organization's 100th season and highlight their moves from January to July of the offseason.
During the 2025 offseason the rule exempting teams from participating in the series if they reached the playoffs in either of the two preceding seasons was removed. The Buffalo Bills, who had made the playoffs the preceding 6 seasons, were selected for the show. Teams that have appeared on the training camp version of the show in the past eight seasons and teams that are part of the in-season division selected or next year's in-season division season or Hard Knocks are exempt from participating in the series.
In April 2026, the NFL announced that the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots were selected for the next two editions of the show in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Seasons
+SeasonYearTeam12001Baltimore Ravens22002Dallas Cowboys32007Kansas City Chiefs42008Dallas Cowboys52009Cincinnati Bengals62010New York JetsSpecial2011N/A72012Miami Dolphins82013Cincinnati Bengals92014Atlanta Falcons102015Houston Texans112016Los Angeles Rams122017Tampa Bay Buccaneers132018Cleveland Browns142019Oakland Raiders152020Los Angeles ChargersLos Angeles Rams162021Dallas Cowboys17Indianapolis Colts (in season)182022Detroit Lions19 Arizona Cardinals (in season)202023New York Jets21Miami Dolphins (in season)222024New York Giants (offseason)23Chicago Bears24AFC North (in season)252025Buffalo Bills26NFC East (in season)272026Seattle Seahawks282027New England Patriots
Baltimore Ravens (2001)
Some of the issues covered in the 2001 Ravens season include: The team looking to repeat as Super Bowl winners. Rookies Todd Heap and Dwayne Missouri's adjustment to professional football. The team's adjustment after a season-ending injury to Jamal Lewis. The veterans on the team in the final years of their careers (Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson, Qadry Ismail, and Tony Siragusa). The quarterback competition between Elvis Grbac and Randall Cunningham. Ozzie Newsome and Brian Billick's management of the team.
Dallas Cowboys (2002)
Some of the issues covered in the 2002 Cowboys season include: Quincy Carter's pressure to stay the consistent starting quarterback and the acquisition of Chad Hutchinson as a backup quarterback. Rookie Roy Williams's adjustment to professional football. Emmitt Smith beginning his final season in Dallas, and his pursuit to become the NFL's all-time rushing yards leader. Dave Campo heading into his third (and eventually, final) season as Dallas's head coach. The training of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Kansas City Chiefs (2007)
The series returned on August 8, 2007, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and their preparations for the 2007 season.Chiefs to be featured in HBO's "Hard Knocks" this summer KCChiefs.com, June 2, 2007. It is the only season of the series not narrated by Liev Schreiber. Instead, actor and Chiefs fan Paul Rudd was the narrator.
Some of the issues covered in the 2007 Chiefs season include: The battle for the starting quarterback job between veteran Damon Huard and second-year player Brodie Croyle following the trade of Trent Green. Star running back Larry Johnson's contract holdout. Priest Holmes's attempted return to football after missing all of 2006 after a career-threatening neck injury. The contract holdout and later development of rookie wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, the Chiefs' first-round draft pick of 2007. Boomer Grigsby's switch from linebacker to fullback. The development of rookie defensive linemen Tank Tyler and Turk McBride. The competition between two undrafted cornerbacks - Tyron Brackenridge and Dimitri Patterson. Arena Football League star Bobby Sippio's attempt to catch on with an outdoor team.
Dallas Cowboys (2008)
The Dallas Cowboys were chronicled for the second time on the television series' fourth season, which premiered on August 6, 2008.
Some of the issues covered in the 2008 Cowboys season include: Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones' reinstatement into the NFL. Cameron Fegreus (free agent from Woodhaven, Michigan) attempting to make the team. Keon Lattimore, a younger brother of Ray Lewis, competing for a job. Todd Lowber, a very athletic wide receiver new to the game of football, trying to make the team. Undersized wide receiver Danny Amendola competing for a job. Rookies Felix Jones and Martellus Bennett adjusting to NFL camp for the first time.
Cincinnati Bengals (2009)
The Cincinnati Bengals season premiered on August 12, 2009. Its ratings were higher than any previous season of Hard Knocks,Sabol: Best "Hard Knocks" Ever by Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com, September 9, 2009. and it won two Sports Emmy Awards: one for Outstanding Edited Sports Series or Anthology, and one for Outstanding Post Produced Audio / Sound.
Some of the issues covered in the 2009 Bengals season include: The battle for the starting fullback position between Jeremi Johnson, Chris Pressley, Fui Vakapuna, and J.D. Runnels. The injuries of tight ends Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht, and the adjustment of rookie tight end Chase Coffman to the NFL. The contract holdout of offensive tackle Andre Smith, the Bengals' first-round draft pick of 2009. The battle for the starting strong safety position between veteran Roy Williams and Chinedum Ndukwe. The recovery effort of starting quarterback Carson Palmer from an injury-plagued 2008 season. The antics and catchphrases of wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (as he referred to before changing his name back to Chad Johnson in 2012). The development and maturation of wide receiver Chris Henry.
New York Jets (2010)
The New York Jets were chronicled in the series' sixth season. An official announcement was made on March 25, 2010, and HBO began airing it on August 11, 2010. It won the series' second consecutive Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Edited Sports Series or Anthology. The Jets declined another opportunity to appear in the series in 2011.
Some of the issues covered in the 2010 Jets season include: The vocal coaching style of head coach Rex Ryan, highlighted by several sound bites that became popular after the season, such as "That's being a jackass!" and "Let's go eat a goddamn snack!" Cornerback Darrelle Revis's contract holdout. The battle for the starting fullback position between veteran Tony Richardson, journeyman Jason Davis and rookie John Conner. Second-year starting quarterback Mark Sanchez's development as the "face" of the franchise. Kris Jenkins's return after ACL surgery. Running back Danny Woodhead's attempt to make the team. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie attempting (and failing) to name all 9 of his children.
Hard Knocks: A Decade of NFL Training Camps (2011) At the end of July 2011, NFL Films announced it would not be producing Hard Knocks for the 2011 season. No team wanted to commit to the series due to uncertainty with the NFL's labor situation. A retrospective on the series titled Hard Knocks: A Decade of NFL Training Camps was made featuring clips from every episode made to that point, and including comments looking back on the series from Brian Billick, Shannon Sharpe, Mike Westhoff, and others.
Miami Dolphins (2012)
On May 29, 2012, Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin announced that the team would participate in the 2012 season of Hard Knocks.
Some of the issues covered in the 2012 Dolphins season include: The contract negotiation of Ryan Tannehill, followed by his development as a rookie quarterback in the NFL. The quarterback position battle between Matt Moore, David Garrard and Ryan Tannehill, with Tannehill winning the starting job after week 2 of the pre-season. The health issues of David Garrard, especially after undergoing knee surgery during training camp. He was released from the team the same day this season's final episode aired. The difficulty of Les Brown in adjusting from former college basketball player to NFL tight end, and his subsequent release from the team. The meeting in which Philbin informs Chad Johnson (formerly Chad Ochocinco) of his release from the team following his arrest for allegedly headbutting his wife of 41 days. The meeting in which general manager Jeff Ireland informs cornerback Vontae Davis that he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for two future draft picks.
Cincinnati Bengals (2013)
The Cincinnati Bengals were featured in the 2013 season, which was the team's second appearance on the show. The first episode of the season premiered on August 6, 2013.
Some of the issues covered in the 2013 Bengals season include: Rookie defensive tackle Larry Black's season-ending injury Linebacker James Harrison's dislike of the camera crew at training camp The backup quarterback position battle between Josh Johnson and John Skelton Estonian rookie defensive end Margus Hunt's adjustment to the NFL and life in the U.S.