Hard Knocks Team Selection Rules and Criteria

Hard Knocks criteria that make any franchise a potential candidate for the show are:

1. No participation in the program over the last decade.
2. No postseason berth in the previous two campaigns.
3. No first-year head coach.

If a team has recently hired a new head coach, it automatically puts them out of contention. Arizona Cardinals brought in Jonathan Gannon, who previously worked as a Defensive Coordinator for Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22).

Likewise, if a franchise made the playoffs in the last two years, they are no longer valued as a contender for the program.

Cincinnati Bengals finished 12-4 in 2022 and were placed first in the AFC North. They made it to the AFC Championship, only to lose against the eventual Super Bowl LVII winner Kansas City Chiefs by 23-20.

Another critical aspect considered for the selection procedure is the team’s appearance in the show in the past ten years.

Since 2013, these teams have been part of the show:

• Cincinnati Bengals
• Atlanta Falcons
• Houston Texans
• Los Angeles Rams
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Cleveland Browns
• Oakland Raiders
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Dallas Cowboys
• Detroit Lions
• Arizona Cardinals
• Indianapolis Colts

By default, these teams are also out of reach.

2023 Hard Knocks Contenders and Winner

After assessing the three-point criteria, only four teams from the league were deemed eligible.

Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and Washington Commanders make the final cut, as none of these four has made it to the postseason in the last two years. They have not participated in the show in the past ten years.

And they hired their current head coach in the following years:

• Chicago Bears, Matt Eberflus – 2022
• New Orleans Saints, Dennis Allen – 2022
• New York Jets, Robert Saleh – 2021
• Washington Commanders, Ron Rivera – 2020

Robert Saleh’s New York Jets were considered an early favorite for the show, and the announcement of their participation was made public on 12th July.

Hard Knocks first episode starts around August 8, 2023, just days before the Hall of Fame game. The Jets will commence their training camp on 22nd July.

The production crew will be at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center with the Jets squad in Florham Park, New Jersey.

Last year, Detroit Lions started training on the 30th of July, while the first episode premiered on the 9th of August.

The crew used drones and manned and robotic cameras to deliver the series.

The production members start early as they need to set up their cameras in different places and be ready on their toes to capture nitty and gritty moments.

They work continuously for about 45-50 days to produce the docuseries.

Hard Knocks curse is the belief that the team’s coach, who appears in the HBO show, is destined to have a series of bad luck which is enough to get them fired.

Anyone aware of the Madden Curse, where the athletes suffer a decline after appearing on the game’s cover, can feel chills when introduced to the Hard Knocks curse.

Similarly, the head coaches with a franchise in HBO’s production are struck by a string of bad results. They are eventually handed the termination letter after a couple of seasons.

Thirteen coaches have been the victim of the curse. Brian Billick was the first one to suffer.

The 2001 Baltimore Ravens coach, Brian Billick, won the Super Bowl in 2000 and was 10-6 in the 2001 campaign. But, the inconsistent outcome followed him as he delivered 7-9 in 2002, 6-10 in 2005, and 5-11 in 2007. After 2007, he was let go by the Ravens.

Other coaches who fell victim to the curse are:

• Dave Campo – Dallas Cowboys
• Herm Edwards – Kansas City Chiefs
• Wade Phillips – Dallas Cowboys
• Marvin Lewis – Cincinnati Bengals (2009 and 2013)
• Rex Ryan – New York Jets
• Joe Philbin – Miami Dolphins
• Mike Smith – Atlanta Falcons
• Bill O’Brien – Houston Texans
• Jeff Fisher – Los Angeles Rams
• Dirk Koetter – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Hue Jackson – Cleveland Browns

Team Records after appearing in the program

Of the 18 participants, only eight followed with a winning season, and seven secured a playoff berth. Also, no franchise has ever lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy after appearing in the program.

Here is the complete list of the respective years’ results of every participating team:

• 2001 Baltimore Ravens: 10-6
• 2002 Dallas Cowboys: 5-11
• 2007 Kansas City Chiefs: 4-12
• 2008 Dallas Cowboys: 9-7
• 2009 Cincinnati Bengals: 10-6
• 2010 New York Jets: 11-5
• 2012 Miami Dolphins: 7-9
• 2013 Cincinnati Bengals: 11-5
• 2014 Atlanta Falcons: 6-10
• 2015 Houston Texans: 9-7
• 2016 Los Angeles Rams: 4-12
• 2017 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-11
• 2018 Cleveland Browns: 7-8-1
• 2019 Las Vegas Raiders: 7-9
• 2020 Los Angeles Chargers: 7-9
• 2020 Los Angeles Rams: 10-6
• 2021 Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
• 2022 Detroit Lions: 8-9 

List of Hard Knocks teams who have appeared in the program since its inception in 2001 are:

Dallas Cowboys hold the record for most appearances. After being in the program, the 2021 season was the best for the Cowboys, with a 12-5 win-loss record.

The 2007 Kansas City Chiefs and 2016 Los Angeles Rams, with 4-12, is the worst result by a team after being featured in the production.

The project, which focuses on the story of a journeyman, returning players, coaching style, and preparation, has given some delightful gems over the years.

Rex Ryan Hard Knocks speech in 2010 is undoubtedly one of the greatest moments of the exhibit. The fiery competition for starting Quartebck role at Dallas Cowboys between Quincy Carter and Chad Hutchinson in 2002’s episode 3 displayed the intense inside battle of the franchise.

Likewise, the career-ending injury of Running Back Jamal Lewis in the second episode of the 2001 season was enough to move a sports fan.

It will be intriguing to see what we will get from the Jets this year. The unwilling participants might have some of the best stories in their bag.

The arrival of a veteran Quarterback and four-time MVP, Aaron Rodger, to drive the team’s offense can attract viewers. The duo of Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, with an incredible 2022 campaign, will indeed have cameras on their back.

The fans and the board will closely monitor Robert Saleh’s do-or-die year with the Jets, with only 11 years in the last two outings. With a star QB like Rodgers, he must present a winning season and make it to the postseason to save his job.