Bears to be featured on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’

For the first time, the Chicago Bears — the NFL’s charter franchise in a top media market with No. 1 pick Caleb Williams at quarterback — will be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” the team announced Thursday. The first episode will air on Aug. 6.

Chicago is the first team with a No. 1 pick at quarterback to be on “Hard Knocks” since 2018, when the show featured the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield.

“We are honored to feature such an iconic NFL franchise on ‘Hard Knocks,’” Shannon Furman, NFL Films’ senior director and supervising producer, said in a release. “The Chicago Bears have a talented roster, coaching staff and front office all determined to match the expectations of a hungry fanbase.

“We are thankful to the entire organization for opening their doors to us for what is sure to be an exciting training camp this summer.”

As a non-playoff team with a returning coach who had not been on “Hard Knocks” in recent years, the Bears were one of the few teams the league could have forced to be featured on HBO. We don’t know if it came to that, but Bears chairman George McCaskey has often expressed disinterest in the cameras coming to Halas Hall.

At the league meetings in March, McCaskey said his feelings had not changed.

“We’re told there is some interest in other teams being on the program and we welcome that interest,” he said.

Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren has not shied away from the spotlight. He said in a release the show “will provide our passionate fans across the world the ability to experience this unique and critical time in the history of our franchise.”

Coach Matt Eberflus, a football guy through and through, might not be thrilled about the added attention and obligations, and his quote in the release may be reflective of that.

“Our players, coaches and staff are excited to continue the process of building for the 2024 season,” he said.

Eberflus and select players will talk to the media Friday after the team’s OTA practice.

The Bears are coming off a 7-10 season but showed much promise late in the year. They are in this year’s Hall of Fame game to kick off the preseason. The show will debut five days after they play the Houston Texans in Canton, Ohio.

Why the Bears?

The Bears are appealing because of their newfound star power. It starts with Williams, but it also includes receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze (the ninth pick in the draft).

The Bears’ young secondary — starting with cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson — should also have leading roles in the documentary series. Johnson and Stevenson are two of the Bears’ best and most outgoing players. Stevenson made waves last year as a rookie in training camp because of his tenacity on the field and his trash-talking. — Adam Jahns, Bears senior writer

Required reading

(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images