HBO Airs First Episode of New Hard Knocks Season

NEW YORK— The award-winning HBO series “Hard Knocks” aired its first episode of the new season last night.

This season, Hard Knocks is following around the other team in New York, the New York Jets. The Jets had a crazy offseason, snagging one of the best quarterbacks not only in the league, but in its history in former Green Bay Packer legend Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers was traded from the Green Bay Packers for the Jets 2023 first round pick, second round pick, sixth round pick, and a conditional second round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Jets have an incredibly young and talented team. Last year, New York drafted both the rookie players of the year on offense and defense. Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year and Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

There are plenty of storylines that follow the Jets this season has they look to compete for the Super Bowl with a high-octane roster.

First thing, the quarterback room with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and third year quarterback and 2021 first round pick Zach Wilson, who was the starter. It’s not easy to take a back step and have everyone watch the other guy take over. There are 32 starting quarterback jobs and one “Hard Knocks” show to document a player being pushed down the depth chart.

The sophomores in Wilson and Gardner taking the next step, the Hall of Fame game, former Denver Bronco head coach Nathaniel Hatckett getting a redo after a rough season with the Broncos. Hackett is the Jets offensive coordinator and has a history with Rodgers in Green Bay.

Also, the other players on the team like defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and his new contract, running back Breece Hall returning after an injury, all the former Packer players the Jets signed this offseason before trading for Rodgers, and other recognizable names like C.J Mosley, Adrian Amos, Mecole Hardman Jr., and rookies like Will McDonald IV, Joe Tippmann, Israel Abanikanda, and Carter Warren.

The first episode mainly follows Rodgers around and shows just how likable the signal caller is. If fans have been watching “The Pat McAfee Show’ they might already know a little about Rodgers. Rodgers’ name drops several movies like Austin Powers in Goldmember and BASEketball.

They also follow Gardner as he graduates from Cincinnati and show his battles with Garrett Wilson. The bad blood between new Bronco head coach Sean Payton and Jets coordinator Hackett. Payton had some questionable comments about Hackett’s work with Denver last season, and one defensive lineman’s insanely bad pronunciation of “charcuterie board”.

Plus, the Jets did play in the Hall of Fame game where they squared off against the Cleveland Browns.

Several big name former players make the shows first episode like Curtis Martin, Tiki Barber, Darrell Revis, Joe Thomas, and DeMarcus Ware. A familiar face for Cowboy fans also appears as former head coach Jason Garrett shows up and celebrities Method Man and, as Rodgers’ puts it, the voice of God, Hard Knocks narrator and actor Live Schreiber makes an appearance.

New episodes drop every Tuesday throughout the preseason at 9:00 p.m. on HBO and Max.