Episode 1 of "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" started exactly where it was supposed to — with a draft-night phone call to Caleb Williams and the introduction of the quarterback who hopes to revise the franchise's tortured history at the position. Coach Matt Eberflus said that April union will "go down as an iconic day in Bears history." Series narrator Liev Schreiber described Williams as "a once-in-a-generation jewel with the talent to match the hype.
" All across Chicago, Bears fans 0 got goosebumps. But there was 1 much more to the "Hard Knocks" premiere — and there will be much more to the series — than just Williams. Episode 1 offered a compelling Nick Saban cameo; a glimpse into Jonathan Owens' rooting interest in his wife, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles; and an unforgettable karaoke performance from offensive lineman Theo Benedet.
Four more episodes are ahead as the next installment arrived Tuesday night. So what can we expect from the NFL Films/HBO production over the next month? And how have the filmmakers identified the most compelling content to share with a national audience? Tribune reporter Dan Wiederer recently caught up with "Hard Knocks" director Shannon Furman to discuss the series. Here are the most significant parts of that conversation, edited for clarity and brevity.
QUESTION: You guys have arrived at a bit of a landmark time in Bears history with so many things happening. When this opportunity arose, what was your greatest intrigue.