By Dan Zealley
Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels were in talks to be on the offseason version of “Hard
Knocks” until a deal couldn’t be reached as reported by CBS Sports‘ Jonathan Jones.
In a turn of events, UNC football and Bill Belichick will not be participating in Hard Knocks: Offseason after talks break down. More at @NFLonCBS https://t.co/JC7teHvz28
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 4, 2025
Since 2001, NFL Films and HBO have produced the award-winning show “Hard Knocks” that documents
a selected franchise coming through training camp and into the upcoming NFL season. Over half the
teams have participated in the show over the years. Belichick’s New England Patriots were never on the
show.
Last year HBO produced a version featuring the New York Giants during the offseason, but no NFL team
elected to participate this year, causing HBO to turn to college football and North Carolina.
More Sports News
“Sources at UNC had spotted NFL Films employees in the facility in recent weeks, and there was
excitement across the football program and university about the exposure Belichick’s team would
receive from the series.”
“NFL Films had discussions with Coach Belichick and UNC about appearing on Hard Knocks this offseason
but couldn’t reach an agreement,” a spokesperson for NFL Media said, via CBS. According to Jones,
creative control was at the center of the sides being unable to reach an agreement on Hard Knocks
It is a shame we will not be able to see Belichick and the Tar Heels prepare for the 2025 season. It would
have been interesting to see him transitioning from the NFL to college and relating to 18–23-year-old
men on and off the field.
