


It’s been a hard no for “Hard Knocks.”
The NFL and HBO’s reality show that documents training camp and preseason of one team has gotten no takers this year, forcing the league to expand its search beyond the four squads that meet the criteria.
The Jets, Bears, Commanders and Saints can all technically be forced to partake in the filming.
The NFL can require a team to be the subject of “Hard Knocks” if they haven’t made the playoffs in the last two seasons, have not been on the show in the last 10 years and don’t have a first-year head coach.
These teams don’t care about those rules, though, they don’t want the cameras on the field.
The New York Jets were thought to be a good pick for this season with Aaron Rodgers’ sparkling entrance, but head coach Robert Saleh is not interested.
“I know there are several teams that would love for ‘Hard Knocks’ to be in their building,” Saleh said in a June 9 press conference, according to ProFootballTalk. “We’re just not one of them.”
Jets cornerback Justin Hardee also spoke out on Twitter against the prospect of his team being chosen.
“Man y’all can give hard knocks to another team man we tryna focus and win that’s a distraction,” he wrote.
Sentiments are the same in Chicago and New Orleans.
“We feel there are a number of teams that have compelling stories to tell on ‘Hard Knocks’,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said, according to The Athletic. “31 others.”
“I wouldn’t like it because I just want to focus on our football team and getting better, and any distractions are exactly that, distractions that keep you, ultimately, from reaching your goal,” Saints head coach Dennis Allen said, according to ProFootballTalk.

The Commanders haven’t directly spoken against it, but CBS reported that the NFL is getting desperate and asked Detroit to run-it-back this season.
The Lions were featured in 2022 and denied the return offer.
Last season’s selected team was announced in March.
The NFL is having hard luck, now three months behind normal schedule.