NFL star reveals why he ‘HATES’ his team being picked for ‘Hard Knocks’ next season

The Pittsburgh Steelers will compete in ‘Hard Knocks’ for the first time in 2024, but one of their star players isn’t happy about it.

In a historic move, the NFL’s famed behind-the-scenes show will focus on the entire AFC North division this season, and defensive end Cam Heyward isn’t looking forward to participating.

“I hated it,” he said in his Not just a football podcastwhen asked about his reaction to hearing the Steelers would be on the show. “I don’t want to be on this.”

He continued: ‘The locker room is the locker room, and I just don’t want that to get ruined. There’s so many inside jokes, so many people.

“There are so many people, you’d think everyone’s a jerk when you hear everything. But it comes from a loving place, and it comes from a caring place.”

Jets Defensive end Solomon Thomas trains for the cameras of ‘Hard Knocks’ in 2023

Since its premiere in 2001, the NFL Films and HBO documentary series has offered fans unparalleled television insights into team practices, offseason operations and personnel decisions.

In recent years, however, the league has sometimes struggled to find volunteers.

Previously, teams were allowed to decline “Hard Knocks” if they had made the playoffs in the last two seasons, or had performed well in the last ten years.

That period has been reduced to eight years under new rules approved by the owners, the Sports Business Magazinealthough teams with first-year head coaches are also allowed to turn down the show.

The show strictly documented a team’s summer training camps and preparations leading up to 2021, when the Colts were featured in a season-long draft — which this year will feature the Steelers, Bengals, Ravens and Browns.

The show has also added an offseason version this year, which recently debuted and focuses on the Giants and their NFL Draft process.

The traditional version of the show, which focuses on training camps, will focus on the Bears this summer.