HBO Reportedly Pressing Hard To Get Chicago Bears On Hard Knocks
The Chicago Bears are one of several founding franchises that have managed to avoid the annual Hard Knocks series on HBO since its founding over 20 years ago. Team chairman George McCaskey hasn’t made his feelings on the subject murky. He doesn’t like the program and feels it would be a needless distraction for his team ahead of the season. Let somebody else do it. He’s gotten his wish every year. However, there might be no way to dodge the responsibility this time based on new information.
According to Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron, HBO is strongly pushing for the Bears to be the centerpiece of its new Hard Knocks season. The reasoning isn’t hard to understand. Chicago is a massive media market with a huge fanbase. It would bring in guaranteed ratings. Also, they have plenty of storylines worth covering, from #1 overall pick Caleb Williams to the new stadium pursuit and the uncertain future of head coach Matt Eberflus going into a critical third season.
After speaking with someone connected with HBO, the Bears are not only HBO’s most desired team out of the three; they are also the most desirable team out of all 32 NFL teams.
Why wouldn’t they be? They are an up-and-coming team with plenty of new faces, and they have two big-time rookies with big personalities in quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze.
But will the Bears be forced to do it? That’s the major question…
…The NFL would like to make this decision, ideally, before teams break for the summer in early June. The prediction here is that the Bears will be featured on Hard Knocks this summer, and the in-season series will feature the NFC South.
The NFL will have to force the Chicago Bears to do it.
There is no way McCaskey will volunteer for this assignment. Based on the updated participation requirements, only three teams qualify. The Bears are one, while the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos are the other two. New Orleans isn’t anywhere close to a big draw, given its lack of big personalities and middling situation on the field. Denver would be interesting with Sean Payton, new 1st round quarterback Bo Nix, and new ownership trying to find its footing in the NFL. Looking at the options, it’s easy to see why the network wants Chicago so much.
There is some belief that Hard Knocks could be canceled if it doesn’t manage to attract enough viewers this year. The only way that could be guaranteed is if they pull in a team with a massive following. They’ve already done the Dallas Cowboys three times. The New York Jets have done it twice. Most of the oldest NFL franchises haven’t done it. The only way the Chicago Bears become the first is if the NFL forces them to, which is something they’ve avoided doing to this point.
If they open that Pandora’s Box, others may soon have to follow.