After previously admitting the offseason version of Hard Knocks was a misstep, the Giants are back in the HBO spotlight — this time featured in Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East, as announced Wednesday by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Meanwhile, the Bills will take center stage in the upcoming offseason edition.
Back at the NFL Combine, Schoen made it clear he wasn’t a fan of Hard Knocks, noting no teams had asked him for advice on it — though he hinted, “I think I know what I’d tell them.” His skepticism was well-earned: the Giants’ off-season appearance preceded a disappointing season and included moments that aged poorly, such as Schoen’s decision to let Saquon Barkley walk — only for Barkley to sign with the Super Bowl-winning Eagles.
The show did give fans unprecedented access to the inner workings of the Giants’ front office, but it also opened the door for heavy criticism and public mockery. One major storyline was the internal debate over Barkley’s future: while owner John Mara and others pushed to re-sign him, Schoen and most of the staff favored letting him test the market.
“I think the right thing to do is let you test the market and see what your value is,” Schoen told Barkley on camera — a moment that now looms large in hindsight.
Instead of investing in Barkley, Schoen prioritized rebuilding the offensive line to protect Daniel Jones — a decision that backfired as Jones was later benched and ultimately released.
