"UNC and Bill Belichick to be Featured on 'Hard Knocks' Reportedly, as NFL Teams Reject Offer"
According to a report from Front Office Sports on Friday, the upcoming offseason version of "Hard Knocks" on HBO will focus on Bill Belichick's North Carolina program.
UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi stated on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" that nothing is official yet.
Lombardi mentioned, "There's a lot of discussions happening right now about that. We've received numerous offers from various parties to come in and showcase our program behind the scenes, but nothing has been officially confirmed or signed."
The decision to feature Belichick, who has been an NFL head coach for 29 seasons with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, came after no NFL team agreed to participate, as reported.
Last season, the New York Giants were the focus, and it was the recorded conversations between general manager Joe Schoen and the future of free-agent running back Saquon Barkley that reportedly deterred teams from participating.
Barkley ultimately signed with NFC East rival Philadelphia and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX victory earlier this month in New Orleans. In the regular season, he accumulated 2,283 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 touchdowns.
Barkley broke the NFL single-season rushing record, including the postseason, with 2,504 yards. The previous record was held by Terrell Davis since 1998.
Belichick, who has won six Super Bowl titles with the Patriots, has never been featured on "Hard Knocks." This will be the first time a college program, the Tar Heels, will be showcased.
