Kevin Warren reacts to the Bears’ inclusion in HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ documentary originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
This summer, HBO and the NFL selected the Chicago Bears as the theme of the HBO show “Hard beats“Documentary that follows a team during the training period before the regular season.
It’s been well documented that NFL teams are often reluctant to participate in the documentary, given the unprecedented access they get to team facilities. But with Fox 32 Chicago at the Lincoln UnionBears CEO/President Kevin Warren expressed his faith and trust in his organization to navigate the presence of the documentary.
“I trust our leadership. I trust our coach. I trust Ryan. I trust our players. I trust our leadership,” Warren said. “If you’re doing the right things the right way, you’ll have nothing to hide. I trust we’ll do it the right way. I think what people will be able to see is that this is a unique thing that’s happening. ‘Hard Knocks’ has been Totally professional.”
This is the first time in franchise history that the Bears will be featured on the show that debuted in 2001. Few teams rarely volunteer to be the subject of the show. But the NFL has criteria for forcing a team to participate.
These criteria include:
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A team hasn’t appeared on “Hard Knocks” in the last 10 years
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A team has not been to the playoffs in either of the last two seasons
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A team did not hire a new head coach
The three teams that met the criteria this offseason included the Saints, Broncos and Bears. But ultimately, the The bears were chosen because of his growing popularity and success in the NFL.
The Bears have the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, leading their team in Caleb Williams. And the offseason additions of Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift, Kevin ByardGerald Everett, Rome Odunze and others made them a rising star in the NFL.
They also have several intriguing stories to mention. For example, the Bears kept Matt Eberflus as head coach, hired two new coordinators, and are trying to build a new lakefront stadium, etc.
There’s a lot to be interested in about the Bears right now. And that’s why they were selected.
“People all over the world are interested in the Chicago Bears,” Warren said.
