49ers and NFC West escape spotlight as Hard Knocks will focus on Bills and NFC East

HBO and NFL Films are gearing up for the latest installments of the acclaimed Hard Knocks series. Fortunately for head coach Kyle Shanahan, the San Francisco 49ers—and the rest of the NFC West—have avoided the spotlight this year.

Instead, fans will get an inside look at training camp with the Buffalo Bills, followed by in-season coverage of the NFC East.

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills premieres Tuesday, August 5, marking the franchise's first-ever appearance on the long-running series.

Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East debuts in December, featuring the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and reigning Super Bowl LIX champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.

These two editions mark the beginning of a new multi-year partnership between HBO and NFL Films, continuing the legacy of Hard Knocks with fresh access to some of the league's most high-profile franchises.

"We are thrilled to provide 'Hard Knocks' fans a summer with the Bills and winter with the Cowboys, Giants, Commanders and Eagles in the first year of our exciting new deal with NFL Films," said Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller, co-executive vice presidents HBO Documentary and Family Programming, and Bentley Weiner, senior vice president HBO Sports Documentaries. "There will be no shortage of star power."

"There aren't many shows in history that have had a successful 25-year run," said Ross Ketover, NFL Films senior executive. "We are thrilled that the partnership between NFL Films and HBO – which has captivated football fans for so long – will continue years into the future."

For the 49ers and their NFC West rivals, this means another year free from the cameras and distractions of the series. Coming off a disappointing 6-11 finish, San Francisco will aim to rebound in 2025, without the added attention that Hard Knocks brings. While fans won't get a behind-the-scenes look at the team's preparation, the 49ers can focus solely on returning to form without the spotlight cast by HBO's documentary series.