The NFL’s “Hard Knocks” is set to return in 2024 with a new format after the league’s owners approved several rules for the show. According to CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the in-season version of “Hard Knocks” will now feature four teams within one division. This change is aimed at minimizing disruption for individual teams during the regular season and ensuring no team gains a competitive advantage.
The decision to include an entire division is likely a response to criticism that previous seasons have featured teams from different divisions, making it difficult for fans to compare them directly. Additionally, the preseason version of “Hard Knocks” will continue to feature one team as before. New rules have been implemented regarding which teams are eligible to be on the show, including exemptions for teams with first-year head coaches, teams participating in the upcoming in-season show, and teams that have appeared on “Hard Knocks” within the past eight years.
Under the previous rules, teams that had made the playoffs in the past two seasons or appeared on “Hard Knocks” within the past 10 years could decline participation. However, these rules have been revised to increase the pool of eligible teams. The NFL has not disclosed the lineup for the 2024 season yet, but these changes promise to make the show more exciting with a wider range of teams eligible for both versions. The addition of an entire division for
