Each NFL preseason brings fans a new season of HBO’s Hard Knocks. The compelling docuseries takes a behind-the-scenes look at one franchise as it prepares for the upcoming season and makes some tough roster decisions to whittle the team down to 53 active roster players.
Few teams would actively volunteer to have HBO’s crew hanging around during those crucial preseason weeks, so the NFL has created eligibility guidelines outlining which teams can be chosen in a given year.
Since 2014, teams have been exempt from being the focus of that year’s Hard Knocks season if they have a first year head coach, have been a playoff team in the last two seasons or if they’ve appeared on Hard Knocks in the last decade.
