HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Training Camp” is set to give viewers a different kind of look at the Seattle Seahawks, and NFL Films producer Kaley Campen says the setting has already separated itself from the usual camp routine.
Campen, now in her fifth year with NFL Films, spoke about the team’s first days of camp ahead of tonight’s premiere. The Seahawks are coming off a Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots in February, which makes them only the second reigning champion ever featured on the show. The only other time it happened was 25 years ago, when the Baltimore Ravens were the focus.
That championship backdrop has shaped everything so far. Campen said the energy around the team has been unmistakably different, and the production crew has already gotten access to moments that wouldn’t normally be part of the series. That included the ring ceremony, when the players received their Super Bowl rings.
“I mean, it's been really exciting, obviously, them coming back after winning the Super Bowl. Vibes are high.
Guys are excited to be back. It’s given us a unique opportunity to capture some things that we wouldn't usually get to.
We were out here for their ring ceremony when the guys all got their Super Bowl rings, for example. So I think just having those unique options that we haven't had before to really kick it off, piggybacking off of the success they had last year has been a really fun start so far.”
Campen also had plenty to say about Mike MacDonald, who she said has been easy to work with from day one. She described him as someone who understands what NFL Films does and has been a fan of the company’s work. In her view, he’s the central figure of Episode 1.
“He has been so awesome, really, from our first day here. Even our first visit with him on our first day at camp until now, he has been so great.
He definitely understands what we do. He's been a fan of NFL Films.
So, it's just been such a good collaboration. And he's really great at what he does.
I mean, he is the first ever defensive coach to call plays in the Super Bowl and win. He’s just been really great to get to know, and I think fans will be really excited getting to know him.
He's definitely the star of Episode 1, and I think we really peeled back those layers of getting to know him and who he is."
Beyond the coach and the cameras, Campen said what stood out most was the feel inside the locker room. She described the Seahawks as tightly connected, with a level of trust and familiarity that was obvious almost immediately. She also pointed to Seattle’s distance from much of the rest of the country as part of what helps create that environment.
“I will say, this locker room is so close. You can tell, I think, how much they love each other, how close these teammates are.
Seattle's pretty far from a lot of the rest of the U.S., so I think that probably plays a part too, that, you know, they're all out here in Seattle… I think proximity makes a difference, but you can definitely tell there's no surprise by how they won a Super Bowl. I think you can tell that bond they all have.
They trust each other, they put the work in. It is definitely a really close knit locker room that stood out to me within a couple days of being here.”
Asked about future teams she’d like to see featured, Campen mentioned the Green Bay Packers. She said she grew up in Green Bay and that her love of football comes from being around the game there. She also noted that the Packers have never appeared on “Hard Knocks,” and called it special if that ever changed.
“I grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, so I think my love for football comes from my connection to the game there. But also being in a place where football really means everything.
The Packers have never done Hard Knocks. So it would be pretty special if we were able to end up there.
They have a lot of unique traditions during training camp. So, if that comes to fruition in the coming years, that would be pretty awesome.
We'll be sure to follow up on that.”
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