Thanks to a rule change a few years ago, some teams no longer have a choice when it comes to being featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks. Any of the 32 NFL teams could volunteer for the documentary style, reality-TV show, but since that never happens, the league made some guidelines.
In order to be out of the running for a Hard Knocks’ selection, a team would need a to have just hired a new head coach, made the playoffs in the previous two years or have already appeared on the show in the last 10 years.
The Chicago Bears do not meet any of those three exclusionary points, therefore, they are one of eight teams that could be forced into doing the show.