‘Hard Knocks’ director says Detroit Lions reached out to be on the show

The Detroit Lions are on ‘Hard Knocks’ this year, and the director said they reached out to be on the show. 

The Detroit Lions were among the teams who could’ve been forced to be on ‘Hard Knocks’ this year. In March they were confirmed as the featured team for the HBO reality show, and they’re sure to be “must see tv.”

Most teams dread “Hard Knocks”, lest the cameras capture any secrets they’d rather not let out to the public even with editorial control over such things.

But according to an interview with the Detroit Free Press (subscription required), Shannon Furman, the director of this year’s edition and a senior producter for NFL Films, revealed the Lions actually reached out to be on the show.

Via Pride of Detroit:

"There was some interest from both the Lions and the Jets, I think, which were the two teams that were on the list this year,” Furman said. “But there was a mutual agreement, the Lions kind of reached out, we were on board. Whenever anyone seems like they’re on board and wants to do it, we want to do it.”"

The Detroit Lions embraced the opportunity to be on “Hard Knocks”

As mentioned, the Lions, Jets and Carolina Panthers were the three teams who met the criteria to be forced to be on “Hard Knocks” this year. Having a first-year head coach, having made the playoffs in one of the last two years or having been on the show within the last 10 years are the exemption criterias to not be forced to do it.

But it’s not too surprising the Lions chose to embrace the opportunity, rather than wait to possibly be forced to do “Hard Knocks”. Furman shared some initial impressions of the coaching staff.

"One of the things I know that we’re definitely interested in is this coaching staff, so I was kind of trying to watch for that. Everyone obviously knows Dan Campbell’s going to be a big figure in this, but he was more mild-mannered, just in what I noticed. Aubrey Pleasant was someone who stood out to me. Defensive coordinator, coach (Aaron) Glenn, he stood out.”"

The first episode of “Hard Knocks” will air Tuesday, Aug. 9, and run for five straight Tuesday nights with the finale on Sept. 6.