Once a breakthrough series and incredibly popular show on HBO, the ‘Hard Knocks’ series has seemingly become nothing more than a thorn in the side of NFL franchises.
Giving fans an inside look at training camp and the inner-working of a franchise, ‘Hard Knocks’ delved into all the comings and goings that professional football teams deal with.
However, it appears that those days of transparency might be over, as the show was unable to find an NFL team that was willing to participate this year.
That doesn’t mean it’s the end of the show, though, as they’ve made an interesting pivot.
According to Ryan Glasspiegel at Front Office Sports, ‘Hard Knocks’ will be coming to college football, as the show will follow the North Carolina Tar Heels after their high-profile hire of Bill Belichick.
“BREAKING: Bill Belichick and UNC will be featured on Offseason Hard Knocks after NFL Films could not find an NFL team to do it after the Joe Schoen debacle last year, sources tell @FOS,” Glasspiegel tweeted on Friday.
Airing for the first time back in 2001, HBO’s hit show followed a franchise through the process of training camp and into an upcoming season.
In 2021, ‘Hard Knocks’ even had an in-season edition that followed the Indianapolis Colts, also featuring the Cardinals, Dolphins, and even the entire AFC North in one season.
Seeing the NFL game up close is one thing, but seeing the same level of transparency in college football? Now, that’s something that might get the viewership numbers back up.
North Carolina will open up its 2025 season against Sonny Dykes and the TCU Horned Frogs on Monday, September 1, with coverage provided on ESPN.
