NFL Films and HBO have announced that the documentary franchise Hard Knocks: Offseason will return in 2027 to chronicle an entire NFL division across the league’s roster-building calendar, replacing the in-season format that has aired since 2021.
A Shift to Division-Wide Offseason Coverage
The upcoming installment will follow multiple teams within a single division through the NFL Scouting Combine, free agency, and the NFL Draft, according to announcements from league and network officials. Filming is scheduled to begin at the conclusion of the 2026 NFL season, with episodes debuting in 2027 on HBO and streaming on Max.
“Our fans are increasingly interested in how NFL rosters are built, as well as the people who build them,” said Ross Ketover, NFL Films senior executive. “With Hard Knocks moving to the offseason, we are excited to showcase the tireless work that happens across an entire division, from the moment a season ends to the minute training camp begins.”
Evolution of the Documentary Franchise
This upcoming project marks a return for the offseason iteration, which made its debut in 2024. That initial venture, Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants, became a fan favorite and earned a Sports Emmy Award nomination. The new multi-team division format represents the latest scheduling shift for the quarter-century-old documentary banner produced by NFL Films.
The structural change means the end of the in-season format, which captured late-year team dynamics and playoff pushes starting in 2021. HBO is currently airing Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks, with new episodes scheduled through September 1, and the New England Patriots are already slated to be featured in the training camp edition airing in the summer of 2027.
What Comes Next
Production on the newly formatted division-wide offseason series will commence immediately following the 2026 NFL regular season and playoffs.
