HBO’s “Hard Knocks” has not yet decided on its topic for 2017 offseason, which comes before another highly anticipated NFL offseason for loyal insider viewership.
However, NFL teams are not required to do it. Teams are free to choose not to take part in the production, as they typically do. Even in the event that a club declines, the NFL has regulations in place to compel them to play.
A team needs to fulfill three requirements in order to be made to participate:
There isn’t a new head coach for the team.
2) The last two seasons, the squad did not qualify for the playoffs.
3) The group hasn’t appeared on “Hard Knocks” in a decade.
This offseason, only the Broncos, Saints, and Bears fit the mold. In past offseasons, the Bears have made it quite evident that they have no interest in playing. In late March, during the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, George McCaskey, the chairman of the Bears, reiterated the team’s lack of interest.
According to McCaskey, “we’re hearing there’s interest in other teams being on the program, and we welcome that interest.”
It’s difficult to imagine that the league wouldn’t compel the Bears to be the next topic of the offseason documentary, unless a team willingly steps forward to be the subject. The Bears have developed one of the league’s most captivating narratives at this point.
Let’s review.
With the selection of quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick and wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth overall, the Bears completed what was perhaps the last significant highlight of their offseason on Thursday night.
Recall that some dare to refer to Williams as a “generational talent” when it comes to quarterbacking. In recent memory, he is without a doubt the most well-known NFL draft prospect. One of the first significant NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) athletes to enter the professional ranks is Williams. In addition, he overtook Caitlin Clark in the record book for most jersey sales for a draft choice in any sport ever.
Ryan Poles and the Bears front staff had a fantastic offseason in free agency and through trades before to their A+ first round selection.
The Bears made a major trade acquisition when they acquired Keenan Allen, who has a fascinating backstory of how the Chargers apparently caught him off guard by asking him to take a pay reduction after they managed to stay below the NFL salary cap. Allen leads what is maybe the strongest pass-catching group in the league, which also includes Cole Kmet, DJ Moore, and Odunze.
Gerald Everett, Kevin Byard, and D’Andre Swift are a few other prominent additions. Additionally, keep in mind that Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson was re-signed by the Bears. Additionally, the rebuilding Commanders sent Montez Sweat to the Bears during the most recent trade deadline.
The Bears had two turbulent seasons before to all of this. They had the worst record in the league in 2022, which earned them the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They exchanged that pick for a plethora of picks, including Moore and Williams with the Panthers’ first-round selection.
The Texans defeated the Colts in Week 18 of that season on a fourth-and-20 hail mary from Davis Mills to Jordan Akins, giving them a 0.5-game lead over the Bears. After the team’s victory, Lovie Smith, the head coach of Texas and a former Bears coach, was dismissed.
The Bears had a 1-4 start to the previous season. They breathed agonizing defeats to the Chiefs (41-20 with Taylor Swift in attendance), the Buccaneers, the Packers (38-20), and the Broncos (blew a 21-point lead at home).
There was more drama to come. Head coach Matt Eberflus assumed responsibility for calling defensive plays when defensive coordinator Alan Williams abruptly quit. Following his disorderly behavior at work, running backs coach David Walker was also fired by the Bears.
On the other hand, the Bears won five in a row at home to conclude their 5-1 campaign. In the last few weeks of the season, their defense finished in the top five for scoring, which helped them close off the season strong. Despite the mayhem, Eberflus was able to keep his position as the team’s head coach because of it.
But not everyone was secure. Luke Getsy and a number of the Bears’ offensive personnel were let go. Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, well renowned for his assistance in reviving Geno Smith’s career, took Getsy’s spot. Eric Washington was also hired by the Bears to serve as their defensive coordinator.
All of this to say, of the three teams that could be dragged into “Hard Knocks,” the Bears’ storyline is unquestionably the most engaging and exciting—possibly even the most intriguing in the NFL.
Rebuttal to the argument?
Russell Wilson was cut by the Broncos this offseason, and they have a case with his falling out. They made a trade for Zach Wilson, who, after Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tear in the opening week, was undoubtedly a big story in New York, but was unable to keep the Jets competitive. In addition, the Jets added Bo Nix of Oregon to their quarterback competition on Thursday.
The Saints, on the other hand, barely have a plot now that they’ve decided to go back to Derek Carr. There isn’t much going on in New Orleans other than the loss of Michael Thomas this offseason.
Unless some team surprises the league by submitting a bid to volunteer to be the topic, I would almost certainly bank on the Bears to be the “Hard Knocks” offseason subject. Alternatively, they might be spared from the offseason form if the NFL decides that the NFC North is an interesting subject for the in-season documentary.
If you’re a Bears or “Hard Knocks” fan, though, I’d say this summer pose is a fun one to follow given the unlikely possibility of it happening.
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