Steelers will finally make their “Hard Knocks” debut in 2024
Steelers will finally make their “Hard Knocks” debut in 2024
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never been featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks Series... but that will all change in 2024, the team announced Moday. The Steelers will join the rest of the AFC North in being featured for this year’s edition of Hard Knocks: In Season — the first time the series has ever covered an entire division.
The program featuring the AFC North will premiere on Tuesday, December 3. New episodes will continue to air every subsequent Tuesday and “continue into the NFL playoffs,” according to the NFL’s press release.
The Steelers have been lucky enough to avoid the fate of being featured on Hard Knocks to this point, largely due to their track record of success excluding them from mandatory eligibility.
Though teams can volunteer to participate, the league does have criteria for participation, should they have no volunteers:
- Missed the playoffs in the two prior seasons
- A head coach who has been with their team for at least season
- Have not participated in the show over the last decade
Thanks to their playoff success, the Steelers have only been eligible for the program in two seasons, including 2014 (missed 2012 and 2013 playoffs) and 2020 (missed 2018 and 2019 playoffs).
An old-school organization like the Steelers doesn’t seem like one that would be “all-in” on the filming process and the distractions that can inevitably stem from the presence of the cameras. However, HC Mike Tomlin is pretty entertaining (and quotable), and considering that the organization underwent major changes with the additions of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator and a massive facelift in the quarterbacks room, there’s no doubt it’ll make for some good TV.