[UPDATE] – NFL Films, which produces “Hard Knocks,” had discussions with Belichick and UNC about appearing on the show this offseason but couldn’t reach an agreement, NFL vice president of communications Alex Riethmiller said Tuesday, March 4. [Source: New York Times]
Who saw this coming? One time Patriots coach Bill Belichick had successfully avoided the HARD KNOCKS franchise for years, so the HBO Sports crew just followed him to his collegiate coaching gig. Nothing has been officially announced but it is all over the internet that HARD KNOCKS is about to tap into college football for its HARD KNOCKS: OFF SEASON 2025 run.
It seems the production could not procure an NFL team to take the off-season iteration of the show and got the idea to look elsewhere; in this case, that elsewhere is the University of North Carolina and first-year coach Bill Belichick. UNC hired Belichick in December after he could not find an NFL job. While he has been a coach since 1975, this will be the first time in his career as a college coach, so fans will get a glimpse into how the 72-year-old handles the new position. This show will certainly put all eyes on the Tar Heels and their new coach.
The off-season version of the HBO Sports series began in 2024 and followed the New York Giants. Since the series can’t offer any on-field coverage at that time of year, the focus has to settle on who is making it on the 
roster, who is negotiating, and how the front office factors in the equation. During this close look at the Giants ball club, some revealing business was revealed, especially in hindsight, around Saquon Barkley, who went on to aid the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl win. Those types of discussions, which usually happen behind closed doors, expose ball clubs and make them skittish to want to participate.
But most teams have always been skittish about participating in HARD KNOCKS. They don’t want to expose their strategies, rituals, and such. So, HARD KNOCKS did the bold move here. It didn’t force an NFL organization to comply, it just moved elsewhere. Cameras have been in college football camps before, but not for HARD KNOCKS. Welcome to the show, UNC Tar Heels!
Are you all okay with this creative decision? Will the franchise continue this collegiate route annually, or will the Off-season show come to an end? Let us know what you think.
