Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Texans will be the featured NFL team this summer for HBO's "Hard Knocks" program, the series that details the club's training camp.
"We are thrilled to partner with HBO and NFL Films to give fans unprecedented access to our team and organization," said Texans founder, chairman and CEO Bob McNair in a statement Wednesday. "The 'Hard Knocks' documentaries do a tremendous job of displaying how an NFL team prepares for the upcoming season. We look forward to showcasing the Houston Texans to a worldwide audience."
Earlier Wednesday, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Texans were approached previously to take part in the series, but then-head coach Gary Kubiak declined.
The Texans were 9-7 in Bill O'Brien's first season as head coach in 2014, improving from 2-14 in 2013. Kubiak was fired with three games remaining in the 2013 campaign.
"This is an opportunity to provide a behind-the-scenes look at our team as we prepare for the 2015 season," said Texans general manager Rick Smith. "Fans will get a chance to see the great competition that takes place day-in and day-out on the practice field, as well as get to know all the unique personalities on our roster."
The Baltimore Ravens were the first team to appear on the series in 2001, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002. After a four-year hiatus, the series returned in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dallas was again featured in 2008, followed by Cincinnati in 2009 and the New York Jets in 2010. After the labor strife in the summer of 2011 put the series on hold for a year, Miami, Cincinnati and Atlanta were the last three teams to participate.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.