Hard Knocks (TV series)

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 (Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson, Qadry Ismail, and Tony Siragusa).
• The quarterback competition between Elvis Grbac and Randall Cunningham.
• Ozzie Newsome and Brian Billick's management of the team.

Some of the issues covered in the 2002 Cowboys season include:

• 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 (and eventually, final) season as Dallas's head coach.
• The training of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Actor and Chiefs fan Paul Rudd narrated the 2007 season of Hard Knocks

The series returned on August 8, 2007, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and their preparations for the 2007 season.[9] It is the only season of the series not narrated by Liev Schreiber. Instead, actor and Chiefs fan Paul Rudd was the narrator.[10]

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.

The Dallas Cowboys were chronicled for the second time on the television series' fourth season, which premiered on August 6, 2008.

Some of the issues covered in the 2008 Cowboys season include:

• Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones' reinstatement into the NFL.
• Cameron Fegreus (free agent from Woodhaven, Michigan) 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.

The Cincinnati Bengals season premiered on August 12, 2009.[11] Its ratings were higher than any previous season of Hard Knocks,[12] and it won two Sports Emmy Awards: one for Outstanding Edited Sports Series or Anthology, and one for Outstanding Post Produced Audio / Sound.[13]

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.[14][15]
• 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 (who is now Chad Johnson).
• The development and maturation of wide receiver Chris Henry.

The New York Jets were chronicled in the series' sixth season. An official announcement was made on March 25, 2010,[16] and HBO began airing it on August 11, 2010. It won the series' second consecutive Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Edited Sports Series or Anthology.[17] The Jets declined another opportunity to appear in the series in 2011.[18]

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!"[15][19]
• Cornerback Darrelle Revis's contract holdout.[15][20]
• 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 (and failing) to name all 9 of his children.[15][21]

At the end of July 2011, NFL Films announced it would not be producing Hard Knocks for the 2011 season.[22] No team wanted to commit to the series due to uncertainty with the NFL's labor situation. A retrospective on the series titled Hard Knocks: A Decade of NFL Training Camps was made featuring clips from every episode made to that point, and including comments looking back on the series from Brian Billick, Shannon Sharpe, Mike Westhoff, and others.

On May 29, 2012, Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin announced that the team would participate in the 2012 season of Hard Knocks.[23]

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.[24]
• The health issues of David Garrard, especially after undergoing knee surgery during training camp.[25] He was released from the team the same day this season's final episode aired.[26]
• 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 (formerly Chad Ochocinco) of his release from the team following his arrest for allegedly headbutting his wife of 41 days.[15][27][28]
• 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.[15][29][30]

The Cincinnati Bengals were featured in the 2013 season, which was the team's second appearance on the show. The first episode of the season premiered on August 6, 2013.[31]

Some of the issues covered in the 2013 Bengals season include:

Hard Knocks filming crew with Jermaine Gresham, 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.

Hard Knocks film crew at Atlanta Falcons training camp, 2014

On June 12, 2014, the Atlanta Falcons announced that the team would participate in the 2014 season of Hard Knocks premiering on August 5, 2014.[32]

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.[33]

On May 27, 2015, it was announced the Houston Texans would be the team featured for the 2015 season premiering on August 11, 2015.[34][35]

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.
• Charles James, Kourtnei Brown, and Uzoma Nwachukwu try to make the team.

On March 23, 2016, it was announced the Los Angeles Rams would be the team featured for the 2016 season premiering on August 9, 2016.[36]

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.

On April 19, 2017, it was announced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be the team featured for the 2017 season premiering on August 8, 2017.[37]

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.

On June 11, 2019, it was announced the Oakland Raiders would be the team featured for the 2019 season premiering on August 6, 2019.[38]

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.[39]
• The return of Richie Incognito.[40]
• The backup quarterback competition between Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman.

On April 7, 2020, it was announced that the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers have both volunteered to be featured for the 2020 season.[41] This is the first time two teams are featured as both teams are set to play their inaugural seasons at the new SoFi Stadium. Before the Rams and Chargers volunteered, the Pittsburgh Steelers were heavy favorites to appear due to the team's national appeal and rare position to be "forced" onto the series;[42][43][44] the Steelers themselves have long opposed to appearing on the series.[45]

On June 18, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 season will premiere on August 11, 2020.[46] The format of the episodes will likely be different, due to the NFL's cancellation of preseason games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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,[47] it aired on the NFL Network, not HBO, and was narrated by frequent NFL Films narrator Robb Webb.[48]

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