JUMP TO:
“Hard Knocks” is back for another season, and the Bills are back in the spotlight less than eight months after their season ended in devastating fashion at Arrowhead Stadium.
Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen and his talented supporting cast are looking to finally break through and reach the Super Bowl, at the very least, this season. The start of their journey is being captured by HBO cameras, which will keep a close eye on all of the successes, disappointments and drama from Bills training camp.
The Bills tend to stay away from drama, thanks partly to Allen’s demeanor, but their most pressing situation this summer might be the contract status of RB James Cook, who is set to be a free agent in March. Cook began training camp on the practice field but has since started a “hold in,” sitting out of practice while still attending camp.
From dealing with Super Bowl expectations to making painful roster decisions ahead of the late August deadline, the Bills bring no shortage of storylines to “Hard Knocks” even if they handle their business quietly.
Here’s a complete look at the highlights and reactions from each “Hard Knocks” episode featuring the Bills.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Hard Knocks episodes 2025
Episode 1
The first episode of the season saw the Bills players moving into St. John Fischer University. They are one of only five teams still doing training camp at a school. The episode was largely focused on reigning MVP Josh Allen. We got a look at Dion Dawkins’ favorite hobby, which is drifting.
Daddy daughter time 🫶#HardKnocks | @DDawkins66 pic.twitter.com/xkITSq9Z8f
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) August 6, 2025
Fans also got to meet Maxwell Hairston, Buffalo’s first-round pick, who is a speedy cornerback. He is getting mentored by the veteran Tre’Davious White, who is back with the Bills this season and vying to get his own ice cream flavor at a local spot. Hairston suffered a knee injury, but initial concern was that he had torn his ACL; however, his ligaments were intact, and he will only be sidelined for a few weeks.
Allen took a tour of the new Bills stadium, which is currently under construction. The episode ended with the team’s scrimmage, and the footage was set to the team’s anthem, “Mr. Brightside.”
Ridin’ dirty. 😂#BillsMafia | #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/vFtHoHBERo
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 6, 2025
Episode 2
The second episode of “Hard Knocks” aired three days after Buffalo’s preseason opener against the Giants, featuring looks at preparations for that matchup and the game itself. Towards the beginning and end of the episode, fans went in-depth with second-year linebacker Joe Andreessen, who earned the nickname “Buffalo Joe” after growing up a Bills fan then earning a roster spot in 2024.
Buffalo Joe.
Throwback to @JoeAndreessen at Bills Camp.🥹 #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/0Mt1YFvPg3
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 13, 2025
James Cook’s contract hold-in was covered, with shots of the running back sitting in meetings but not practicing. Fellow running back Ray Davis got more reps in his absence, including some unique emergency kicker duties.
Get you an RB that can do it all 😏@Ray_Davis07 | @OchoCinco pic.twitter.com/Scpkw3F1Vp
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) August 13, 2025
Additionally, some time was spent focusing on receiver K.J. Hamler as he seeks to make his first NFL roster since 2022. Hamler riding a scooter around camp was one of the most viral moments from the episode:
.@Kj_hamler was psyched for his new scooter 😅🛴
New episode of #HardKnocks: Training Camp with the@BuffaloBills airs tonight at 9pm ET on @hbomax pic.twitter.com/GwAPGbGhAB
— NFL (@NFL) August 12, 2025
The second episode continued with Sean McDermott speaking about his past battle with skin cancer, and the head coach also calling former Bills coach Marv Levy for Levy’s 100th birthday. Buffalo’s quarterback room beyond Josh Allen is another theme, with an eye on the QB2 competition between Mitchell Tribusky and Mike White.
“Hard Knocks” also revisited Damar Hamlin’s 2023 cardiac arrest on the field and the safety’s journey since that moment, including a CPR awareness event at this year’s camp and a segment focused on Hamlin sharing his faith as he seeks to write a book.
The second episode wraps up with the Bills moving out from St. John Fischer University in anticipation of the preseason, then a segment breaking down their matchup against the Giants, a 34-25 loss that included a solid performance from running back Frank Gore Jr.
MORE: Madden 26 ratings tracker
Episode 3
The third episode of “Hard Knocks” will air on Aug. 19, two days after the Bills’ preseason game against the Bears.
Episode 4
The penultimate episode of “Hard Knocks” will air on Aug. 26. While Aug. 26 is also roster cut-down day in the NFL, it’s more likely the bulk of Bills roster decisions will be included in the final episode. Highlights from Buffalo’s preseason finale against the Buccaneers are likely to be a central part of the episode.
Episode 5
The final episode of “Hard Knocks” will be released on Sept. 2 and should feature highlights from roster cut-down day, including difficult conversations and a few players receiving the heartwarming news that they made the Bills’ roster.
What night is Hard Knocks on?
“Hard Knocks” will air on HBO and HBO Max each Tuesday night at 9 p.m. ET from Aug. 5 through Sept. 2. Tuesday has long been the traditional release day for “Hard Knocks” episodes.
How many Hard Knocks episodes?
HBO will air five ‘Hard Knocks” episodes this summer. The first episode typically serves as an introduction, featuring the early days of training camp as players settle in, while the following three all air shortly after one of the team’s preseason games. The final episode typically features some of the most notable moments from the team’s roster cut-down decisions at the end of training camp.
Hard Knocks schedule 2025
The 2025 season of “Hard Knocks” debuts on Aug. 5 and runs through Sept. 2, with each episode airing on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.
| Episode | Air date | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
| 1 | Aug. 5 | 9 p.m. | HBO | HBO Max |
| 2 | Aug. 12 | 9 p.m. | HBO | HBO Max |
| 3 | Aug. 19 | 9 p.m. | HBO | HBO Max |
| 4 | Aug. 26 | 9 p.m. | HBO | HBO Max |
| 5 | Sept. 2 | 9 p.m. | HBO | HBO Max |
