Josh Allen’s birthday didn’t come bearing gifts from the NFL.
The Bills’ star quarterback learned on May 21 — the day he turned 29 — that the Bills would be featured in “Hard Knocks” and most of his training camp would be spent with a camera following him around.
“It was quite a surprise,” Allen told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. “Typically, teams that make the playoffs were never a part of that conversation.”
The Bills made the playoffs and narrowly missed out on a Super Bowl berth after they lost to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game this past season.
Previously, league rules prohibited teams that had made the playoffs in the last two years, had a first-year head coach, or had appeared on the show in the last 10 years from being selected for “Hard Knocks.”
Owners voted to eliminate the playoff stipulation before the 2024 season.
“I probably, initially, didn’t react too great to it,” Allen said. “But I do think it’s a cool opportunity for people to see some of the great men we have on our team and some of the great women we have in our staff as a whole.
“So I think it’s a thing we can’t let distract us. Got to keep the main thing the main thing. But I also think it could be a fun opportunity for guys to show their personality. And people get a better insight for how the Buffalo Bills operate.”
The Bills are in a bit of a better spot to jump into the HBO Max show than most, as we’ve seen teams struggle in years past with the all-access view of their team.
The Giants were roundly criticized while on the since-canceled “Hard Knocks: Front Office” show that followed around their coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen while crucial offseason decisions were being made.
Other teams that had a tough time on the show included Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders, who had a newly signed but already disgruntled wide receiver, Antonio Brown, on their team.
The Jets had the show in 2023 when they traded for Aaron Rodgers and did everything they could to avoid it.
Despite pleas from former head coach Robert Saleh, the Jets were forced into the show before having a disastrous regular season, which culminated with Rodgers tearing his Achilles in Week 1 of the season.
Buffalo is a Super Bowl contender coming into 2025, and head coach Sean McDermott is under contract through 2027.
