How would you like to get an inside look at this year’s New Orleans Saints training camp? The Saints are among four teams who are eligible for 2023’s HBO feature on Hard Knocks which spends each summer with one team as they prepare for the upcoming season. Last year’s cycle focused on the Detroit Lions, led by former Saints assistant coaches Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn. It would be interesting to get some insight on Dennis Allen’s approach to running a team compared to his past coworkers.
So what qualifies the Saints for this turn in front of the cameras? Eligible teams must meet these three criteria, and if none of them volunteer to host they can be forced into it:
- They have not made it to the playoffs in two consecutive seasons
- They have a head coach in at least their second year on the job
- They have not hosted “Hard Knocks” in the past 10 years
Allen is entering his second year as Saints head coach, and New Orleans hasn’t qualified for postseason play in either of the last two years, and they’ve never been featured here before, so they’re in the mix. The idea is to limit distractions from teams installing a new head coach or who have been playoff competitors, which more or less puts eligible teams in the NFL’s middle class. Which other teams could get the call from HBO?
Chicago Bears
Head coach: Matt Eberflus (second-year)
Playoffs drought: 2020
Last time on Hard Knocks: N/A
New Orleans Saints
Head coach: Dennis Allen (second-year)
Playoffs drought: 2020
Last time on Hard Knocks: N/A
New York Jets
Head coach: Robert Saleh (second-year)
Playoffs drought: 2010
Last time on Hard Knocks: 2010
Washington Commanders
Head coach: Ron Rivera (fourth-year)
Playoffs drought: 2020
Last time on Hard Knocks: N/A
