Plot Synopsis

Each year, HARD KNOCKS follows a National Football League (NFL) team during its training camp, showing the daily lives and routines of players and coaches. Camera and sound crews are given unencumbered access to the players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, dormitories and practice fields. The following teams have been chronicled: Baltimore Ravens (2001); Dallas Cowboys (2002; 2008; 2016; 2021); Kansas City Chiefs (2007); Cincinnati Bengals (2009; 2013); New York Jets (2010; 2023); Miami Dolphins (2012); Atlanta Falcons (2014); Houston Texans (2015); Los Angeles Rams (2016); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017); Cleveland Browns (2018); Oakland Raiders (2019); Los Angeles (2020), which features coverage of the Rams and Chargers; Detroit Lions (2022).

On Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT, HBO kicked off the five-episode tenth season of HARD KNOCKS, spotlighting the Houston Texans each Tuesday night through September 8. Season 10 focuses on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches as the Houston Texans conduct the franchise's 14th training camp and prepare for the 2015 NFL season, chronicling second-year head coach Bill O'Brien and an intriguing mix of high-profile veterans, emerging stars, free agents, and rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the four-game preseason schedule. Each week, players experience drills, instruction, meetings and fun, while the Texans find a way to find a way to continue to improve, just like it did when it moved from 2-14 in 2013 to 9-7 in 2014 in O'Brien's first year as head coach.

HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE LOS ANGELES RAMS, the eleventh season of HARD KNOCKS, premiered on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on HBO. With anticipation building as the NFL returns to Los Angeles for the first time in 22 years, HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Los Angeles Rams team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League. A 30-person NFL Films crew is at the Rams' training camp at team headquarters in Southern California, shooting more than 1,500 hours of footage over the course of the series. Camera and sound crews have unencumbered access to the players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields. The five-episode eleventh season focuses on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches as the Los Angeles Rams, who compete in the powerhouse NFC West division, conduct the franchise's first training camp in Southern California since the team's 1946-1994 tenure there. Throughout training camp and the preseason schedule, HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE LOS ANGELES RAMS chronicles fifth-year head coach Jeff Fisher and an intriguing mix of Pro Bowl veterans, emerging stars, free agents and rookie hopefuls, including rookie quarterback Jared Goff, who was the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Each week, players experience drills, instruction, meetings and fun, while striving to prove they have what it takes to make the team and leave their mark on the NFL. In the season opener of HARD KNOCKS, the NFL meets Hollywood as the Rams move to Los Angeles with little time to spare in their quest to build an NFL roster and establish a new tradition in Southern California.

The twelfth season of the series, HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, premiered on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT on HBO. This season chronicles head coach Dirk Koetter and an intriguing mix of young emerging stars, Pro Bowl veterans, free agents and rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the preseason. The Buccaneers are coming off a 9-7 season in which they contended for a playoff spot. Each week, viewers will get an inside look as players experience the daily rigors of an NFL training camp. Cameras document hours of conditioning practices and meetings, while chronicling players as they compete for a roster spot and bond off the field. A 30-person NFL Films crew is in Buccaneers training camp at team headquarters in Tampa, shooting more than 1,500 hours of footage over the course of the season. Camera and sound crews will have unencumbered access to players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields. In the season opener, former Heisman winner Jameis Winston, outspoken DeSean Jackson and Pro Bowl perennial Gerald McCoy, along with rookies and free agents, go through the first week of drills at Buccaneers training camp.

HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CLEVELAND BROWNS, the thirteenth season of HARD KNOCKS, premiered on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT on HBO. This five-episode season spotlights the AFC North franchise that has the hometown region excited as a wave of new, young players and veteran acquisitions get acclimated to the team. The new season of HARD KNOCKS opens with enthusiasm building for the 2018 Cleveland Browns. As training camp begins, all eyes are on QB Baker Mayfield, the NFL's number one overall draft pick and future of the franchise. General manager John Dorsey and head coach Hue Jackson welcome a new batch of veteran acquisitions, including former Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl QB Tyrod Taylor and outspoken receiver Jarvis Landry, who led the NFL in catches with the Miami Dolphins last season. Evaluations begin as 90 players vie for 53 coveted spots on the starting roster. In the remaining episodes, cameras chronicle Jackson entering his third season. The Browns compete in the hard nosed AFC North, where they maintain an intense rivalry with each of their opponents and have their sights set on ascending in the standings. Each week, viewers will get an inside look as players experience the daily rigors of an NFL training camp. Cameras will document hours of conditioning practices and meetings, while chronicling players as they compete for a roster spot and bond off the field.

The fourteenth season of this series, HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE OAKLAND RAIDERS, premiered on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT on HBO. A 30-person NFL Films crew was in the Raiders' training camp in Napa Valley, shooting more than 1,750 hours of footage over the course of the series, offering an inside look at the daily rigors of an NFL training camp. With unencumbered access to players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields, HARD KNOCKS documents hours of conditioning practices and meetings, chronicling players as they compete for a roster spot and bond off the field. The five-episode season concludes on Tuesday, September 3. "Since the AFL-NFL merger, the Raiders have been a part of some of the most iconic moments in League history," says NFL Films senior executive Ross Ketover. "We at NFL Films have been thrilled and honored to showcase the mythology of the Raiders from the Holy Roller, Sea of Hands, Ghost to the Post all the way to today with Coach Gruden and this unbelievable cast of players and coaches. Needless to say, we're very much looking forward to this season of HARD KNOCKS."

HARD KNOCKS: LOS ANGELES, the 15th season of the series, spotlights both Los Angeles NFL teams: The Los Angeles Chargers of the AFC West and the Los Angeles Rams of the NFC West. The two franchises are set to share the new 70,000-seat SoFi stadium that is nearing completion in Inglewood, CA. Under fourth-year head coach Sean McVay, the Rams are just a season removed from a Super Bowl appearance and have a roster featuring an intriguing mix of high-profile players, established veterans, and free-agent acquisitions. After an injury-plagued 2019 campaign, the Los Angeles Chargers are looking for a return to the winning formula that helped them finish tied for the AFC's best record in 2018. Led by fourth-year head coach Anthony Lynn, the Chargers overhauled roster features young, rising stars on both sides of the ball, a new quarterback behind center and an influx of veteran talent added this offseason. Both franchises will also be debuting new logos and uniforms when they open their new, state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium home later this year. Dedicated NFL Films production crews will be in both southern California training camps, shooting more than 2,300 hours of footage over the course of the series, offering an inside look at the daily rigors of an NFL training camp. With access to players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields, HARD KNOCKS will document hours of conditioning practices and meetings, chronicling players as they compete for a roster spot and bond off the field. Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn said, "Having been part of HARD KNOCKS before when I was with the New York Jets, my biggest takeaway from that whole experience was that you get out of it what you put into it. There's a reason that season was probably the most popular Hard Knocks ever. If you're going to do a show, do it right. You can't fake it" "We are looking forward to having Hard Knocks in our camp this year," said Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay. "HARD KNOCKS always offers a rare opportunity for our fans to see our players' hard work to prepare for the season, as well as gives them a peek behind the curtain to observe these guys off the field, too. This year will be special because the show will also get an unprecedented look at SoFi Stadium, Stan Kroenke's vision for professional football in L.A."

On Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT, NBO premiered HARD KNOCKS: THE DALLAS COWBOYS, the 16th season of the series. This season's five-episode series chronicles training camp with the five-time Super Bowl champion NFC East franchise. The Cowboys enter the 2021 NFL season looking to improve upon last year's third-place finish in the NFC East. In the second year under head coach Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys look forward to having franchise quarterback Dak Prescott back under center to lead Dallas' high-powered offense which features the likes of running back Ezekiel Elliott, and wide receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb. Defensively, new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn leads an impressive group which features Demarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith and first-round pick Micah Parsons. A 30-person NFL Films crew is at Cowboys' training camp in Oxnard, shooting more than 1,750 hours of footage over the course of the series. Camera and sound crews have unencumbered access to players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields.

The five-episode 17th season of HARD KNOCKS, titled HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE DETROIT LIONS, premiered on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT on HBO, with additional hour-long episodes debuting subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, culminating in the September 6 season finale. The cinema verite show focuses on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches. This season chronicles head coach Dan Campbell entering his second season leading the team and a mix of young emerging stars, established veterans, free agent additions and highly regarded rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the preseason. HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE DETROIT LIONS is narrated by Liev Schreiber, marking his 16th season with the show.

HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS, the show's 18th season, debuted on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT on HBO. Liev Schreiber returns as narrator, marking his 17th season with the show. The five-episode season embeds camera crews at the Jets' training camp in Florham Park, NJ to chronicle third-year head coach Robert Saleh preparing his team of young emerging stars and prominent veterans -- most notably, four-time NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers; Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner; and defensive All-Pros C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams -- for the upcoming NFL season.
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On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT, HBO premiered the finale of HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE NEW YORK JETS.