HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Oakland Raiders announced that they will be teaming up for an unfiltered all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League when HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE OAKLAND RAIDERS kicks off its five-episode season this summer.
The Raiders have been rumored to be featured on the docu-series for a while now and should make for entertaining television with personalities like head coach Jon Gruden, quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Antonio Brown and linebacker Vontaze Burfict on the team.
“If you’re a fan of football or great storytelling, HARD KNOCKS with the Oakland Raiders is going to be must-see television,” says Peter Nelson, executive vice president, HBO Sports in a press release. “We are so grateful to this storied franchise for opening up its doors and allowing HBO and NFL Films to spend the summer with the Raiders in what promises to be a compelling and engaging training camp.”
“Since the AFL-NFL merger, the Raiders have been a part of some of the most iconic moments in League history,” says NFL Films senior executive Ross Ketover. “We at NFL Films have been thrilled and honored to showcase the mythology of the Raiders from the Holy Roller, Sea of Hands, Ghost to the Post all the way to today with Coach Gruden and this unbelievable cast of players and coaches. Needless to say, we’re very much looking forward to this season of Hard Knocks.”
Teams have been hesitant to participate in the show in the past due to other teams potentially gaining insight into what goes on in their building, but Raiders owner Mark Davis does not seem to have a problem with it.
“Everybody wants to be a Raider. Now they’ll find out what it takes to become one,” said Raiders owner Mark Davis.
The Raiders roster has undergone a complete overhaul this offseason so this will present fans with a good opportunity to get to know the new faces in the franchise. It is also the team’s last season in Oakland.
It will feature a 30-person NFL Films crew at Raiders’ training camp in Napa Valley, shooting more than 1,750 hours of footage. The show has won 18 Sports Emmy Awards to date.
