It doesn’t look like the Bears will be on HBO’s Hard Knocks this year

If you’re a fan of Hard Knocks and were hoping the Chicago Bears would be featured in the annual summer football docuseries, you won’t like this update.

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the NFL has moved on from the Bears, who’ve expressed a strong desire not to be on the show.

“I’m told (the NFL has) moved on to other teams that aren’t in that short list of four that can be forced to do it,” Florio said Tuesday on 670 The Score’s The Mully and Haugh show.

It’s no secret the Chicago Bears don’t want to be on Hard Knocks. Chairman George McCaskey has told anyone who will listen that he’s against the idea.

No surprise, but the Bears are not interested in being on “Hard Knocks.” They are one of the teams eligible to be forced to do it in 2023.

George McCaskey: “We feel there are a number of teams that have compelling stories to tell on Hard Knocks.”

Bears included?

“31 others.”

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) March 29, 2023

Here’s what Florio published on PFT on Monday:

“Per multiple sources, the NFL has expanded its search for preseason Hard Knocks teams beyond the four that, by league rule, technically could be forced to do it — the Jets, Bears, Saints, and Commanders. The first three have made clear that they have no interest in doing it. The Commanders, we’re told, would do it if selected.”

NFL teams can be forced to do Hard Knocks if they missed the playoffs for the last two seasons, aren’t entering the season with a first-year head coach, and haven’t appeared on the HBO series in the last 10 years.

The Chicago Bears check all those boxes, along with the three teams Florio outlined.

Sorry Bears fans. Your dream of an inside look at Bears training camp will have to wait a while.