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Hard Knocks is a staple of the NFL preseason, and it reminds us that the new football season is around the corner. Over the years, the show has featured some of the league's most entertaining personas, storylines, and everything in between.
Following the news of the entire AFC North featuring on Hard Knocks 2024, let's look at the five greatest Hard Knocks seasons of all time.
The 5 best Hard Knocks seasons in history
#5 2021 Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys were the first team to appear on Hard Knocks twice. It's unsurprising as they are 'America's Team' after all.
However, it's the 2021 Cowboys that make this exclusive list. That iteration of the Cowboys had so much going on. They had younger versions of perennial Pro Bowlers Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. It also had pre-podcast Micah Parsons figuring out the locker room dynamics and Jerry Jones taking center stage as usual.
Furthermore, it gave Cowboys fans a fresh insight into how the team works in modern times. That iteration of the Cowboys was super easy to root for.
#4 2019 Oakland Raiders
What do you get when you have head coach Jon Gruden and All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown on the same team? Absolute chaos and that was evident in Hard Knocks 2019.
The Raiders gave us an unscripted classic in 2019, and it's no wonder the series is fondly remembered by fans and players.
#3 2018 Cleveland Browns
The 2018 Browns were a hot mess. The team was fresh off winning its first game in two years and had just drafted fan favorite Baker Mayfield. They were looking for some much-needed good press ahead of a pivotal season.
Thankfully, it all played out on the screen. From moments like Hue Jackson trying to stay employed to Carl Nassib teaching players Finance 101, it was a great time to be a spectator.
#2 2001 Baltimore Ravens
There's a reason why they say it takes a lot of work to top the original. That statement rings true in Hard Knocks lore with the legendary season 1, headlined by the Baltimore Ravens.
The 2001 Ravens show had it all: narration by actor Liev Schreiber, the booming personality of Ray Lewis, and the team adjusting to a season-ending injury to a key roster piece. Season 1 is a classic, and it would take a special franchise to topple it.
#1 2010 New York Jets
That special franchise was the 2010 New York Jets, and the team earns the top spot on our list for several reasons.
The Jets took viewers inside the inner workings of an NFL franchise. We saw players get released, contractual holdouts, and the team's focus on building lasting relationships among players.
Then there were some elite personalities on that Jets roster. There was head coach Rex Ryan, one of the most unintentionally hilarious coaches in sports. Also, it had superstar cornerback Darrelle Revis, who was in the middle of a contract holdout, and let's not forget Antonio Cromartie.
The 2010 New York Jets set a bar for the next Hard Knocks, and no other season has come close since.
