HBO’s Hard Knocks series has faced its fair share of criticism from NFL franchises in recent years, leading many teams to avoid participating altogether. However, HBO and NFL Films have now secured a partner for the 2025 edition of the series—though the featured team does not play in the league at all.
The University of North Carolina has reportedly reached an agreement with HBO and NFL Films to be the focus of the latest edition of Hard Knocks. The Tar Heels made the biggest splash of the offseason by hiring former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to lead the program.
This will mark Belichick’s first appearance on the NFL Films series, as the Patriots were never featured during his 24-year tenure with the team.
According to Front Office Sports, the NFL turned to the Tar Heels after failing to secure an agreement with any NFL team for filming.
As of now, neither NFL Films nor HBO has officially confirmed North Carolina as the featured program.
Hard Knocks faced significant criticism for its coverage of last season’s edition, which focused on the New York Giants’ offseason. The series highlighted the failed contract negotiations with running back Saquon Barkley, putting the situation on public display.
The five-episode season also documented the team’s inability to execute a draft-day trade that could have altered the organization’s trajectory. Additionally, the show appeared to depict a franchise lacking a clear identity or direction, with multiple executives shown pursuing conflicting visions for the team.
As a result, many NFL franchises have reconsidered how Hard Knocks might impact their organizations. This year marks the 25th season of the series, which remains a flagship documentary offering a behind-the-scenes look into the inner workings of a football program on HBO.
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