Report: AFC team 'bracing' for 'Hard Knocks' despite HC's comments

The New York Jets are expecting to be chosen as this summer's featured team on HBO's "Hard Knocks," according to Pro Football Talk NFL insider Mike Florio.

This comes less than three weeks after head coach Robert Saleh made it clear that he wasn't interested in the opportunity.

Per Florio, the Jets join the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints as teams that "fit the criteria for being required to do the show in the 2023 preseason."

"Under a formula developed several years ago, the teams that can be compelled to do it include those without a new head coach, those who have not been to the playoffs in either of the last two years and those that have not been the subject of the show for the last 10 years," Florio writes.

The insider adds that Chicago, New Orleans and New York have all "made it clear" that they don't want to be on "Hard Knocks" this summer, while Washington "would do it" if they were assigned. 

Furthermore, according to Florio, the league wants to wait until after the sale of the franchise is finalized, and the team could be this year's in-season option.

The stars of last year's preseason reality series — the Detroit Lions — were reportedly "approached" about coming back for this season but passed.

If the NFL does indeed go with Gang Green as the preseason squad this year, they are seemingly making the perfect choice to draw in viewers.
Not only is Saleh's crew seemingly a team on the rise that could threaten to make playoff noise, but it added a certain four-time MVP in Aaron Rodgers in the spring. 

The Jets were the stars of one of the earlier seasons of the show in 2010, when they were led by highly entertaining head coach Rex Ryan.

Florio notes that while New York can't turn down a potential request, the league "typically" doesn't force a team to be on the show if they don't want to.