Hard Knocks Returns Tonight on HBO

Football season is now officially here! HBO’s acclaimed documentary series, Hard Knocks will begin its 15th season tonight on HBO.

This season will be a special one- it will follow two teams for the first time in the history of the show- The Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

Like many other events this year, one of the common themes throughout this five-episode miniseries will be the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected to dive deep into the details of testing within the NFL.

In addition, HBO is reportedly going to be taking their cameras behind the scenes of the finishing touches of the new state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the new, shared home of both teams.

While the futures of both teams are as bright as the California sun, they are both recovering from sub-par seasons in 2019. The Rams finished the season at 9-7 (3-3 in the NFC West), and the Chargers ended up at 5-11 (0-6 in the AFC West). Both teams missed the playoffs, but big offseasons for both mean that the teams of Los Angeles might be on the upswing.

The Rams gained two huge defensive powers from the Jacksonville Jaguars in cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Dante Fowler. In turn, though, the Rams lost three-time Pro-Bowler Todd Gurley who was at running back.

Rams’ veterans like Pro Bowl quarterback Jared Goff and two-time “NFL Defensive Player of the Year” award winner Aaron Donald will surely be ready to show the newcomers in Los Angeles the ropes.

The Chargers saw two big losses from the offensive side in legendary quarterback Philip Rivers and former Heisman runner-up Melvin Gordon. Additionally, the Chargers’ first-round pick, quarterback Justin Herbert from Oregon will look to start his rookie year as “QB1.” Fourth-round draft pick, Joshua Kelley, a running back from UCLA, will also look to take over where Gordon left off.

Right behind Herbert; however, Easton Stick, a second-year backup, and Tyrod Taylor, a nine-year veteran will battle for the top quarterback spot. In addition, HBO will surely feature the preparation of former “NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year” Joey Bosa for his fifth season.

This season will be different in many ways, from the featuring of two teams instead of one to the new stadium and the COVID-19 pandemic, but one thing is sure- HBO will provide an intricate look at the two teams in a time where many NFL fans are desperate for some football.

I have been a fan of Hard Knocks for many years now, and I am even more excited for this season than usual. It has been a long time since we got our fix of football, and with a canceled NFL preseason and a college football season that could potentially be canceled, I will take any football I can get.

The first episode of this special season will air and be available to stream at 9 p.m. CT Tuesday night on HBO.