In-season Hard Knocks now faces genuine uncertainty. Pro Football Talk reports the NFL hasn’t named this year’s division, weeks past when fans expected an answer.
What We Know: The in-season format of Hard Knocks expanded from one team to a full division back in 2024. The AFC North came first, followed by the NFC East in 2025. Both divisions were revealed by June at the latest in their respective years. This year, training camps have opened with no division named. Meanwhile, the Seahawks and Patriots will be the feature for the 2026 and 2027 preseason editions per the NFL.
What The Data Shows: (Hard Knocks In-Season Teams)
| Year | Team Represented | Announcement Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBA | TBA |
| 2025 | NFC East Division (Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders) | May 21, 2025 |
| 2024 | AFC North Division (Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Steelers) | June 17, 2024 |
| 2023 | Miami Dolphins | November 13, 2023 |
| 2022 | Arizona Cardinals | May 23, 2022 |
| 2021 | Indianapolis Colts | September 16, 2021 |
What Remains Unclear: Whether in-season Hard Knocks survives 2026 is still an open question. Only four divisions remain eligible.
What It Means: If scrapped, Hard Knocks may simply revert to one preseason team each summer. The announcement for the in-season version has come later in the calendar, however the last two years have fallen before training camps. Alternatively, the league could film all 32 teams and assemble a story after the season. That approach would echo the Quarterback series, which thrives releasing content once games are over. The NFL has not commented on the matter.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.