Hard Knocks (TV series)
Hard Knocks is a reality sports documentary television series produced by NFL Films and HBO.
The show was first broadcast in 2001, and the current 2019 season is the fourteenth. Each season, it follows a National Football League team through its training camp and covers the team's preparation for the upcoming football season.
The series shows the personal and professional lives of the 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.
Production
The series was created by Marty Callner in 2001.The series has been narrated by Liev Schreiber since 2001, with the only exception being the 2007 season which was narrated by Paul Rudd, a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.
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."
Despite the difficulty each year in finding a team willing to participate, 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: they have appeared in the past ten years, they have a first-year head coach, or they reached the playoffs in either of the two preceding seasons.
Seasons
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.
- The quarterback competition between Elvis Grbac and Randall Cunningham.
- Ozzie Newsome and Brian Billick's management of the team.
Dallas Cowboys (2002)
- 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 season as Dallas's head coach.
- The training of the Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Kansas City Chiefs (2007)
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)
Some of the issues covered in the 2008 Cowboys season include:
- Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones' reinstatement into the NFL.
- Cameron Fegreus 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)
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.
- The development and maturation of wide receiver Chris Henry.
New York Jets (2010)
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 to name all 9 of his children.
''Hard Knocks: A Decade of NFL Training Camps'' (2011)
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 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)
Some of the issues covered in the 2013 Bengals season include:
, 2013
- Rookie defensive lineman Larry Black's season-ending injury
- Linebacker James Harrison's dislike of the camera crew at training camp
- The back-up 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.
- The fullback position battle between veteran John Conner and converted tight end Orson Charles
- The linebacker position battle between undrafted rookies Jayson DiManche and Bruce Taylor.
- Linebacker Aaron Maybin's struggle to stay on the team and his pursuit of painting.
Atlanta Falcons (2014)
Some of the issues covered in the 2014 Falcons season include:
- The Falcons attempt to build more toughness into the team after a disappointing 2013 season.
- Veteran Kroy Biermann's attempt to return from a major injury and switch positions.
- Rookies Tyler Starr and Jacques Smith's attempt to make the team.
Houston Texans (2015)
Some of the issues covered in the 2015 Texans season include:
- Head coach Bill O'Brien trying to lead the team to the playoffs after finishing just short in 2014.
- The quarterback battle between Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer.
- Vince Wilfork bringing leadership and experience to Houston.
- J.J. Watt working out to Fort Minor's Remember The Name
- Jadeveon Clowney returning from a torn meniscus.
- Reigning Defensive Player of the Year J. J. Watt trying to become an even better player.
- Rookies Kevin Johnson and Jaelen Strong adjusting to life in the NFL.
- David Quessenberry recovering from cancer.
Los Angeles Rams (2016)
Some of the issues covered in the 2016 Rams season include:
- The team moving back to Los Angeles after spending 21 years in St. Louis
- Head coach Jeff Fisher releasing the previous season's starting quarterback Nick Foles over the telephone
- First overall draft pick Jared Goff's first experiences in the NFL
- Eric Kush fighting for a spot on the roster
- William Hayes' unconventional beliefs about the existence of mermaids and dinosaurs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017)
Cleveland Browns (2018)
On May 17, 2018, it was announced the Cleveland Browns would be the team featured for the 2018 season premiering on August 7, 2018.Some of the issues covered in the 2018 Browns season include:
- First overall draft pick Baker Mayfield adjusting to life in the NFL.
- Josh Gordon returning to training camp for the first start since his second substance abuse policy violation in 2014.
- Hue Jackson trying to retain his position as head coach and win games after just one victory over the last two seasons.
- Jarvis Landry assuming responsibility as a leader on the team.
- Corey Coleman's dissatisfaction with his role on offense and subsequent trade to the Buffalo Bills
- Rookie Antonio Callaway being unable to avoid run-ins with the law.
- Journeymen Devon Cajuste and Nate Orchard trying to make the team.
- Carl Nassib's finance lessons.
Oakland Raiders (2019)
Some of the issues covered in the 2019 Raiders season include:
- With the construction of Allegiant Stadium and in a usable state by 2020, this will be the 25th and final season in the team's second tenure in Oakland.
- Antonio Brown's recovery from frostbitten feet and his arbitration with the NFL regarding a grievance with the league's new helmet rules.
- The return of Richie Incognito.
- The backup quarterback competition between Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman.
Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers (2020)
On June 18, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 season will premiere on August 11, 2020.
Similar productions
Inside Training Camp: Jaguars Summer
In 2004, NFL Films produced a training camp documentary series, similar to Hard Knocks, that featured the Jacksonville Jaguars. Called Inside Training Camp: Jaguars Summer, it aired on the NFL Network, not HBO, and was narrated by frequent NFL Films narrator Robb Webb.Some of the issues covered in this 2004 series include:
- Jack Del Rio's second season as a head coach
- The development of rookie wide receiver Reggie Williams, the Jaguars' first-round draft pick of 2004
- The relationship between rookie placekicker Josh Scobee and legendary special teams coach Pete Rodriguez