ATLANTA — The NFL’s offseason edition of “Hard Knocks” is returning for the first time since 2024, when the New York Giants were featured. This time around, the focus will expand across four franchises.On Wednesday, the league will announce the return of “Hard Knocks” for the 2027 offseason. No one team wanted to follow the Giants after their appearance, so instead, NFL Films and HBO will chronicle a behind-the-scenes look at each team in an entire division.The divisional concept is one “Hard Knocks” has employed the past two years with its in-season version, first with the AFC North in 2024 and again last year with the NFC East. This offseason edition will now replace the in-season version; there will not be an in-season “Hard Knocks” in 2026.“We love that, with a lot of our shows, how great action on the field is for football. And we always have to have a certain amount in each episode. … What we learned [from the Giants offseason series] is the offseason show is really an office workplace show,” Ross Ketover, NFL Films’ senior executive, told The Athletic recently. “There’s some combine and some pro day workout, but there’s not much action. The interest of what it takes to build a club from the smallest detail is … really interesting to football fans and not something we should overlook. Whether it’s free agency, signing undrafted free agents when the draft is over (or) how a scout goes from one pro day to another, it’s all really interesting.”Ketover does not anticipate announcing which division will be chosen until the series is ready to air, but NFL Films cameras will begin following the teams around toward the end of this regular season. Because the AFC North and NFC East participated the past two years, the focus of the show will be on one of the other six divisions.For a quarter-century, viewers have watched the training camp “Hard Knocks” Offseason “Hard Knocks” is unique because it has access to teams during free agency and the draft; it pulls back one of the thickest curtains in the league.The Giants’ “Hard Knocks” was one of the most memorable editions ever. The first-of-its-kind offseason edition showcased the organization’s decision to move on from Saquon Barkley, attempts to potentially move on from then-franchise quarterback Daniel Jones, trade negotiations with the Panthers to obtain Brian Burns and a glimpse of the team’s draft board that had color-coded tags indicating some of what the team thought of top prospects.Though a success with viewers, the show was not such a hit within the NFL. No team wanted to sign up for an offseason “Hard Knocks.”“I think the Giants, as we all know, got a lot of attention. And then Saquon had the greatest season a running back’s ever had, so they certainly got some grief for those decisions, which we didn’t make, but we amplified,” Ketover said. “That show, you needed people to raise their hands. And everyone knowing we have these other “Hard Knocks” series that are coming along, and everyone takes their turn on that, we’ve gotten to the place where everyone knows they will be selected at some point, and they’re gonna do a show, and it always works out better than they expected, and Films works great with them. But to get someone to then volunteer on top of that was probably asking too much.”NFL Films pivoted the following year and nearly had a deal with the University of North Carolina in Bill Belichick’s first season coaching the Tar Heels, but talks ultimately fell through for reasons related to creative control.Moving away from the in-season “Hard Knocks” made sense for HBO, too, Ketover says. The live-sports content landscape gets crowded around Thanksgiving, as the NFL plays more Saturday games and college football playoffs begin.The offseason “Hard Knocks” will likely air six to eight episodes beginning in late May or early June and run up until the start of training camp in July.“So the question is, how can we find fans when they’re hungry for football content?” Ketover said. “That’s really what was the driving factor for us to contemplate: How can we make a change in something that we had done before and knew was successful?”The current “Hard Knocks,” featuring the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, wraps on Sept. 1 after roster cuts. The New England Patriots have already been selected for the 2027 training camp version, but before viewers go inside Patriot Place, they will get a glimpse into the inner workings of four different franchises this offseason.