Hard Knocks is a documentary series produced by NFL Films for HBO that follows a team through training camp and covers its preparation for the upcoming season. It has been running every year since 2007. This past season, it followed the New York Giants during the offseason, the Chicago Bears during the season, and the entire AFC North throughout the season.
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CFB Fans React to the News That ‘Hard Knocks’ Will Follow Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels
Hard Knocks has been a huge success for the NFL, with millions of fans tuning in to watch every season. However, NFL teams do not always want to give access to HBO.
They do not love the idea of cameras following their players and coaches around all the time because they worry that it could be a distraction. As a result, it is often challenging to get a team to agree to be the featured team.
Heading into the 2025 offseason, NFL Films was unable to find an NFL team to do the show. As a result, they pivoted to college football and will be following legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick as he coaches his first season of college football at UNC. College football fans reacted to this news on X.
BREAKING: Bill Belichick and North Carolina will be featured on Hard Knocks after NFL films could not find an NFL team for the show, @FOS reports🍿https://t.co/lH4O6KGWKj pic.twitter.com/gzWlTJ8OPs
— On3 (@On3sports) February 28, 2025
“This is absurd. They are giving free publicity to unc,” one fan wrote.
“He doesn’t have the personality for Amazon Video to follow him. Nor does he have a son who is into media. So, this makes sense,” one fan commented.
“Sad that there won’t be an NFL team on NFL films Hard Knocks but I am excited to see Bill Navigate the college landscape,” one fan added.
Fans continued to sound off in the comments on X.
“LETS GOOOOOOO Would be even better if they permanently switched to a college team. Also would make sense as I’d think a college team if they could get paid for it would love to do it (put it into NIL),” one fan commented.
“Huh? I thought teams were forced to do Hard Knocks. Every year, there was a list of teams the NFL could choose from who hadn’t done it in a while,” one fan added.
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Hard Knocks will provide fans with a close-up view of Belichick as he navigates his first season coaching in college football.
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