DENVER — The Denver Broncos could be thrown into the spotlight next season if no teams volunteer for NFL Film's annual TV show on HBO depicting life during training camp and the preseason.
The Broncos are one of three teams that meet the NFL's criteria to be forced to appear on "Hard Knocks" – no first-year head coaches, haven't made the playoffs in the past two seasons and haven't appeared on the show in the past 10 years.
The Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints are the other two teams that could be compelled to appear on the show.
The Broncos have never appeared on "Hard Knocks" since the show debuted in 2001, and neither has Sean Payton in his 16 seasons coaching the Saints and Broncos.
Teams typically aren't jumping at the opportunity to appear on the show, with many coaches considering the extra presence of cameras and production crews a distraction. That's why the NFL introduced the criteria to make teams appear in 2013.
Despite the challenges, the show has featured a new team every season since 2001, except 2011 when labor negotiations caused uncertainty.
Beginning in 2021, "Hard Knocks" added a second in-season version of the show featuring a team different than the one featured during training camp. NBC Sports reports those three teams – the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins – are exempt from being forced to appear on the upcoming season.
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