McDermott shared his thoughts on what circumstances a camera crew brings to his eighth training camp.
The Buffalo Bills will be the featured team on this season of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series, and with that comes a buzz of excitement from fans of the team and seeing their favorite players in a “behind-the-scenes” lens. It’s rare viewing for outsiders to have such access to a pro sports machine like the NFL.
Some are tentative about the added noise it may bring to Buffalo’s 2025 preparation as only seven of the 20 teams featured on the Training Camp iteration of the show have made the playoffs and only three have won a postseason game. Those teams however, were non-playoff clubs the year prior. A new stipulation added this season is what made Buffalo eligible, and they will be the most successful team to have the preseason documentary aimed their way.
Head coach Sean McDermott understands the way a looming camera and microphone can impact his team. McDermott has always been a coach who believes in a strong culture, often citing training camp as a mode for authentic conversations that allow players to learn to know and love one another.
McDermott admitted recently that with the “Hard Knocks” crew around: “The real challenge to us is the authenticity of who we are and building that critical trust,” and the “show” aspect will play a role while the players are trying to build tight bonds with each other.
Like any reality show or docuseries, it’s difficult to be truly yourself and let all the walls down. That can often mean these foundational offseason moments come with a caveat or force them to happen in another space, away from the noise. McDermott spoke on this, saying “There’s a lot that we do that they’ll see, which I think is great for the fans. I think there’s also just as much that people won’t see.”
McDermott will also be treading water himself, after a 2023 article cited his use of the 9/11 attacks as a way to motivate his players to work together cohesively — and made him a running punchline in NFL online spaces, and called into question his leadership style. He has since quelled chatter about his connection (or lack thereof) with Bills players as the team continues to be one the league’s best, but, social media will be watching keenly for anything he says in a meeting or huddle to make a callback to his misstep.
Luckily for McDermott, he will be far from the headlining content on “Hard Knocks,” as the Bills’ new stadium construction looms large and Josh Allen still exists.