Robert Saleh makes it clear NY Jets do not want ‘Hard Knocks’

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh made it abundantly clear that his team has no interest in being featured on "Hard Knocks".

Michael Nania

06/09/2023

Robert Saleh, NY Jets, Hard Knocks, HC — Robert Saleh, New York Jets, Getty Images

New York Jets don’t want “Hard Knocks”, per Robert Saleh

While speaking to the media in Florham Park on Friday, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh was asked if he has heard any news regarding whether his team will be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks.

Saleh said he hasn’t heard anything yet, but more notably, he made it clear that the Jets are hoping they do not get selected.

“I haven’t got word or anything like that. I know there’s several teams that would love for Hard Knocks to be in their building, we’re just not one of them.”

Robert Saleh says the Jets are not interested in being on Hard Knocks this year: pic.twitter.com/FKkNj9z8qJ

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) June 9, 2023

The Jets are one of three teams who meet the criteria to be forced onto the show, along with the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. A team can be forced onto Hard Knocks if they meet each of the following three criteria:

Team has not made the playoffs within past two seasons
Team has not been on Hard Knocks within past 10 years
Team does not have a first-year head coach

If a team does not meet any one of those three criteria, they cannot be forced onto the show.

New York’s last appearance on Hard Knocks came in 2010, while Rex Ryan was the head coach. Ryan, of course, delivered some famous quotes that year.

The distraction of Hard Knocks did not hurt the Jets in 2010, as they went 11-5 and won two playoff games en route to the AFC Championship Game. New York’s total of 13 victories that season is tied for the best mark in franchise history.

However, that Jets team is a major outlier when it comes to success in a Hard Knocks season. They remain the most recent Hard Knocks team to win a playoff game, and only three of the past 11 teams even made the playoffs.

Considering those numbers, Saleh is right to be skeptical of the distraction Hard Knocks would bring. Besides, the Jets already have their own world-class video production team in the building, which recently drew unanimous praise for its Flight 23: Ascension documentary series that chronicled the Jets’ offseason.