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The NFL Has Officially Changed The Rules For 'Hard Knocks'

Originally posted on The Spun | By Kameron Duncan | Last updated Apr 2, 2025 9:08 PM ET

Preseason games, training camp and late free-agency additions often signal the return of football in the late summer, and the same could be said for one long-running television show.

For over two decades, fans have had an inside look into NFL training camps through "Hard Knocks" on HBO and MAX.

The show details practices, roster decisions and team meetings in the offseason, and it's provided fans with several memorable moments during its airtime.

The NFL established rules for which teams were allowed to participate in the show, and which teams were exempt based on qualifications from previous seasons.

On Wednesday, the league adjusted those rules to allow more teams to be considered for the show.

This year, teams without first-year head coaches, teams that won't be included in the "Hard Knocks: In Season" spinoff, and teams that haven't been on the show in eight seasons will all be eligible for participation.

A team list for this season has yet to surface, but the Falcons, Panthers, Seahawks and Titans would have been candidates under the old rules. The show has typically focused on teams looking to get to the postseason, often with interesting stories due to draft and free agency additions.

The Chicago Bears fit that criteria in 2024, adding Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall draft pick. The league focused on the AFC North for the "In Season" spinoff last year, and the New York Giants were featured on a special "Offseason" version of the show.

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Tony Goncalves, Chief Executive Officer of Otter Media, speaks onstage at HBO Max WarnerMedia Investor Day Presentation at Warner Bros. Studios on October 29, 2019 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for WarnerMedia)

Fans have appreciated the access that the show gives into the inner workings of NFL teams, and similar documentaries have followed in other sports. Netflix's Formula 1 and golf documentary series have been especially popular, introducing the sports to new audiences.

As the NFL's storylines and interesting teams around the league take shape through the rest of free agency and the draft later this month, we'll see which team is selected for this year's version of the documentary series.

Several teams around the league have been featured on the show, some in multiple seasons. The new season of Hard Knocks will likely premiere in August to coincide with the beginning of the NFL preseason and the end of training camps.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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