Bears could be forced to appear on Hard Knocks in 2024

I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of my team being on the HBO series, “Hard Knocks.” I get it, it is a great show and provides an inside look at players and coaches you wouldn’t ordinarily get. But for a Chicago Bears team entering such a critical season in 2024? Keep the cameras out of Halas Hall.

Unfortunately, the Bears may not have a choice in whether they’re featured on the show this year. They’re one of three teams that could be forced to appear on Hard Knocks, assuming another team doesn’t volunteer.

The other two teams that could be forced to participate are the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints.

Three teams could be forced to do Hard Knocks next season if no teams volunteer:

– Chicago Bears
– Denver Broncos
– New Orleans Saints pic.twitter.com/1RO2qvP3wv

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 18, 2024

Teams ineligible for Hard Knocks include any club that’s hired a new head coach, has made the playoffs in the last two years, or has been on the show at some point in the last ten years. The Bears don’t check any of those boxes.

Perhaps the Broncos will have more appeal to HBO. Coach Sean Payton is a big personality who’d do well on camera. They have a quarterback change coming, and the fallout from Russell Wilson’s expected departure will be fascinating.

The Saints aren’t nearly as appealing, although something is intriguing about a team that isn’t necessarily on the national stage getting a chance to bloom. But Dennis Allen? Derek Carr? Eh, it sounds like a snoozefest to me.

That leaves the Bears, who face one of the NFL’s most tantalizing quarterback situations in 2024. They’ll either run it back with Justin Fields — great TV — or turn the franchise over to a quarterback taken with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, most likely Caleb Williams — great TV.

Either way, the Chicago Bears will be great TV. In an era where ratings are king, and with streaming services like HBO Max trying to gobble up as many subscriptions as possible, the Bears quarterback drama is gold.

Maybe I have to keep an open mind about the Bears being on Hard Knocks. Maybe it would be fun to get a closer look at Matt Eberflus and whoever he tabs as the offensive coordinator. Getting to know the 52nd and 53rd guys on the roster isn’t the worst thing in the world.

There’s a lot of time before the Hard Knocks team is chosen. But brace yourself for the Chicago Bears dominating free agency, the 2024 NFL Draft, and the summer training camp season.

What do you think about the Chicago Bears potentially being on Hard Knocks? Create your free user account (by clicking on the show comments button/bubble) and give it a grade! And if you’d like an ad-free experience on Bears Talk, consider upgrading to a premium account. It’s just $3.49 per month (or better yet, $29.99 per year.) You’ll unlock our exclusive NFL Draft content, too. Bear Down!