"Hard Knocks" Celebrates 22nd Season of Filming Teams Destined for Heartbreak

By Clay Beyersdorfer

As it embarks on its 22nd season, HBO’s Hard Knocks continues to solidify its legacy as the National Football League’s premier chronicler of teams on the fast track to heartbreak. 

This year, the spotlight falls on the Chicago Bears, a franchise whose recent history has been defined by a bewildering mix of hope and colossal failure, or what sources inside HBO call “ the right mix” for its latest installment.

"We're excited to give fans an inside look at the next chapter of our story," said Bears head coach Matt Eberflus when reached for comment. "Or, at least the part before it all goes downhill and I inevitably lose my job and have to go back to getting my haircut at Supercuts."

The show’s producers are quick to point out their near-perfect track record: 89% of featured teams have failed to achieve winning seasons, and 76% have missed the playoffs entirely.

Past seasons have demonstrated that Hard Knocks is more than just a documentary; it’s a harbinger of doom. The Los Angeles Rams, who starred in the 2020 edition, followed up their appearance with a 10-6 record, only to exit the playoffs early. The following year, they won the Super Bowl—conveniently just after the cameras stopped rolling.

The Bears themselves are no strangers to the pain of unmet expectations. Their last playoff victory came in 2010, and despite a brief resurgence in 2018, they've largely been mired in mediocrity. 

"We know the stakes," said rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who has shown flashes of brilliance this pre-season. "I’m hoping this season we can break the curse. But then again, maybe we’re just filming the inevitable. Maybe all of this is just a simulation."

Williams then walked off the practice field to contemplate his inevitable demise.

In a bid to keep things fresh and depressing, Hard Knocks producers are reportedly toying with a new format that includes flash-forwards to potential future disasters, allowing fans to get a sneak peek at the unavoidable locker room implosions and fourth-quarter collapses that will define the Bears’ 2024 season.

As Hard Knocks celebrates its 22nd installment, one thing remains certain: the show is unparalleled in its ability to turn preseason dreams into regular-season nightmares.

End of the Bench will have more on this story after we check on the city of Chicago.

Related stories: